![olympics-2024-updates-from-paris-as-france-storm-past-argentina-in-rugby-sevens-grudge-match.jpeg Olympics 2024: Updates from Paris as France storm past Argentina in rugby sevens grudge match](https://rugby-247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/16819-olympics-2024-updates-from-paris-as-france-storm-past-argentina-in-rugby-sevens-grudge-match-696x435.jpeg)
Rugby sevens semi-final line-up complete
Fiji and Australia join South Africa and France in the last four. Australia cruised past USA 18-0 while Fiji survived a valiant effort from Ireland, eventually overcoming them to win 19-15.
On Saturday, South Africa will play France and favourites Fiji take on Australia.
Star studded opening ceremony along Pari’s famous river
Lady Gaga and Celine Dion are expected to star on the banks of the River Seine on Friday night as Paris prepares to defy over a century of Olympic tradition.
The duo are reportedly set to perform a version of Edith Piaf’s ‘La Vie en Rose’ as part of a glittering conclusion to the first ever opening ceremony to be staged outside a stadium.
Instead, team delegations will set sail from the Austerlitz Bridge on a 6km journey through the centre of Paris to a unique finale close to the Trocadero.
Click here to learn everything you need to know about Friday’s big event.
Team GB snub Olympic Village food after complaints of raw meat
By Jeremy Wilson and Tom Morgan in Paris
Team GB have hit out over the Olympic Village food, accusing the Paris hosts of serving raw meat and causing shortages which have forced them to bring in an extra chef at their own alternative restaurant.
As part of their extensive planning, the British Olympic Association had hired an entire catering college in nearby Clichy as a performance base. The athletes are now snubbing the village in favour of the food cooked by the specialist Team GB chefs.
Click here to read more.
Analysis from our rugby expert Charlie Morgan
Obviously impossible to tell without being embedded in the France camp, but there seems to have been a real humility about how Antoine Dupont has approached this sevens stint. Besides everything else, he’s a super honest competitor, which makes his wow moments somehow cooler.
— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) July 25, 2024
Despair for Argentina
Argentina players stand dejected following their defeat against France in the rugby sevens
Credit: PA/Mike Egerton
Emma Hayes’ USA lead Zambia 3-0 in the women’s football
United States head coach Emma Hayes (left) looks on as Zambia’s Pauline Zulu (5) leaves the field after given a red card by referee Ramon Abatti
Credit: AP/Julio Cortez
Rugby sevens: France 26 Argentina 14
All over in the Stade de France, solo brilliance from Dupont as he exploits the space and speeds through to score.
The French fairytale goes on! The host nation are through to the semi-finals where they will meet South Africa.
Rugby sevens: France 21 Argentina 14
Sepho’s time in the sin bin as elapsed but he is forced to wait a minute at least. France keep the ball, manage the time well and Argentina give a penalty away. 30 seconds to go.
Rugby sevens: France 21 Argentina 14
Boos as Argentina go over in the corner easily. The try is converted. 2.26 minutes left.
Rugby sevens: France 21 Argentina 7
France’s Jordan Sepho is sent to the sin bin for two minutes after being penalised for being offside.
Time for Argentina to strike with the extra man.
Rugby sevens: France 21 Argentina 7
Argentina have their first meaningful possession of the match and Rodrigo Isgró takes full advantage to find the gap, burst through and finish easily to reduce the score.
Rugby sevens: France 21 Argentina 0
First score of the match goes to the host nation as Andy Timo bulldozes his way past Argentina’s defence.
Moments later, the French tricolour is being waved by fans as Aaron Grandidier Nkanang bursts away down the right and finishes.
And the French complete a perfect first half when Grandidier Nkanang dives over in the corner expertly to get his second of the match.
Argentina, hotly tipped, are in disarray.
Rugby sevens: South Africa beat New Zealand 14-7
The first match of the rugby sevens quarter-finals was an absolute thriller. South Africa raced into a 14-0 lead and survived a second half fightback to book their place in the semi-finals.
Next up it is France vs Argentina.
Selvyn Davids scored South Africa’s first try
Credit: Reuters/Dylan Martinez
‘Tension in the air’
Not long until hosts France meet Argentina in a mouth-watering quarter-final match-up in the men’s rugby sevens. It’s a full house tonight in the Stade de France and this clash will take place against the backdrop of a race row that has been brewing between the two countries across football and rugby circles. On my walk up to the Stade de France, you could definitely feel the tension in the air – there was lots of chanting breaking out among animated French fans marching up to the stadium.
Away from the political tension, it’s worth pointing out how sevens – a code that has historically been played out in cavernous stadiums – has been embraced by Parisians. Yesterday’s opening day attracted a record single-day crowd for rugby sevens, with 69,000 fans in attendance and millions more watching globally.
Classy moments from Djokovic to Murray
I heard the news about Andy and I hope that he will have the best possible farewell in his last competitive match in the Olympics, for him and his country.
He is a legend of our sport and has been an incredibly important player for tennis globally.
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic shared an embrace at Wimbledon
Credit: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Team GB’s 17-year-old Phoebe Gill: Maths lessons kept me grounded after Olympics qualification
Maths lessons at school. British senior champion. Work experience teaching the reception class at her old primary school. A contract with Puma. And now the Eurostar to Paris as the youngest track and field Olympian for a generation.
That, in short order, has been the last four weeks for Phoebe Gill, a 17-year-old 800-metre runner, whose emergence this year has prompted a message of congratulations from Dame Kelly Holmes – Britain’s last Olympic champion over her distance – and comparisons with Emma Raducanu. The latter, says Gill, has been a definite inspiration for how the 2021 US Open winner combined education and sport in the weeks before her similarly meteoric rise culminated with a grand slam victory.
“Life has definitely changed this year but school has been really good in grounding me between the hectic things,” said Gill, ahead of her arrival in the Olympic village ahead of her first race next Friday. “Going to maths class after winning the British champs was a grounding experience and going to work experience the week after was really good for me.
“Being with the little kids after such a stressful but fun weekend was a really nice way to come back down to earth basically. I was there for a week. It’s a good thing to find that balance; a nice way to take your mind off athletics for a while.”
Click here to read Jeremy’s interview with Phoebe Gill.
Seven-time Olympic gold medallist puts in the finishing touches
Nadal injury fears
Reports in Spain suggest Rafael Nadal is facing an anxious wait over his participation at the Olympics.
His coach Carlos Moya has told Spanish media that the clay court legend felt discomfort in his right thigh/hamstring during doubles practice yesterday.
Moya said:
I can’t assure you Nadal will play. Today it was decided to stay to give him more time to recover from the setback that occurred yesterday. Let’s see if he can be ready tomorrow.
The most responsible thing right now with an event of this magnitude is not to force it.
Women’s football icon Marta puts Brazil ahead
The 38-year-old, who is set to retire from international football after the Olympic Games coolly slotted home in the first half to give her country the lead over Nigeria.
Brazil’s Marta (centre) celebrates with team mates after scoring
Credit: Getty Images/Christophe Archambault
Security to be boosted following pitch invasion
Paris Olympics organisers said they would boost security at the Games and ensure security staff are available and well trained after a pitch invasion at a soccer match between Argentina and Morocco on Wednesday.
Organisers said the incident during the opening match of the soccer tournament – in which security staff chased fans around the pitch at Saint-Etienne Stadium – had not posed a major security risk and that lessons would be learned.
“We do not minimise the events of yesterday,” Olympics security director Bruno Le Ray told reporters, adding that additional staff and crowd barriers would be brought in for upcoming matches at Saint-Etienne, where access to the pitch is easier than at other stadiums.
Pitch invaders ran onto the pitch during Argentina vs Morocco
Credit: Reuters/Thaier Al-Sudani
Radcliffe: I am ashamed by my words about Dutch child rapist
Paula Radcliffe has said she is “ashamed” of her interview wishing luck to the convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde at the Olympics in a new apology.
Radcliffe was heavily criticised after giving an interview in which she said “we allow people who cheat in sport and take drugs to come back and compete, he was 19 at the time and he has served his jailed time” about Van de Velde, who will represent the Netherlands in beach volleyball at this summer’s Games in Paris.
Radcliffe apologised soon after her comments on Wednesday evening, but posted a second full apology to convey her regret over the controversy.
Click here to read Radcliffe’s apology.
Watch: Coco Gauff named as Team USA flagbearer
In case you hadn’t seen this already, this is a lovely moment for the 2023 US Open champion.
Second equestrian abuse scandal erupts at Olympics as rider faces criminal proceedings
The Paris Olympics have been hit by fresh claims of equine abuse, with show jumping medal contender Max Kuehner of Austria subject to criminal proceedings in Germany for allegedly hitting his horse’s legs with a bar to make it jump higher.
Kuehner, the world No 3 in jumping, stands accused by the Munich II public prosecutor’s office of violating the German Animal Welfare Act by engaging in “active bar jumping” or “barring”. The technique is more commonly known as “rapping”, where a pole is used to smack the horse’s legs over a practice jump, forcing it to lift. It has been banned in Germany since May 2023.
Click here to read more.
Spain and Canada make winning starts
At the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, Spain complete their fightback against Japan to win 2-1.
Canada also fought back from a goal down to beat New Zealand 2-1 in Group A.
In Group B, Germany have just kicked off against Australia. While in Group C, Nigeria face Marta’s Brazil.
Israel warns of Iran plan to target its athletes at Olympics
By Will Bolton
Israel’s foreign minister has reportedly warned French authorities of a possible Iranian-backed plot to attack the country’s athletes at the Olympics.
Israel Katz sent a letter to Stéphane Séjourné, his French counterpart, warning him of the potential targeting of the Israeli delegation during Paris 2024.
In the letter, parts of which were published by Israeli media, Mr Katz told the minister for Europe and foreign affairs of his concerns regarding a possible attack.
Click here to read more.
Spain take late lead over Japan
The World Cup winners are in front in their Group C match. It is a lovely intricate move with Aitana Bonmati at the heart of it.
Mariona Caldentey then picks up the ball, comes inside the box and curls a shot into the far corner in the 74th minute.
Rybakina withdraws
World No 4 Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the Olympic Games. She was due to compete in the singles and mixed doubles draw.
It is another blow to the tennis event which has seen the likes of Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune also pull out.
Elena Rybakina will not compete at the Olympics
Credit: Getty Images/Robert Prange
Hello!
My thanks to Rob and Sam for their efforts so far today.
A busy evening is ahead of us with plenty of action. But we start with some breaking news from the tennis tournament.
Football half-times
Canada, the defending women’s champions, have scored a stoppage time equaliser against New Zealand. Cloe Lacasse bagged it with a sweeping right-foot shot from the left of the penalty spot and that means both matches are currently all-square.
Canada 1 New Zealand 1
Japan 1 Spain 1.
Uche Amako will be your guide for the rest of the evening and he will be covering the denouement of these two matches. Germany vs Australia, Nigeria vs Brazil, France vs Colombia, USA vs Zambia, plus four handball matches and, most mouthwateringly, the men’s rugby sevens quarter-finals.
The epic handball tussle
Between South Korea and Germany has just ended with the Koreans winning 23-22, Kang Kyung-min scoring what turned out to be the decisive goal, her sixth of the match.
Kang leads South Korea to victory
Credit: DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images)
South Korea celebrate holding on to beat Germany with a player down after a late sending off
Credit: DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images
Spain equalise against Japan
And it’s the Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati. As Jude Bellingham would say, ‘Who else?’
Japan have scored the first goal of the women’s football tournament
Aoba Fujino has given Japan the lead against the world champions with a right-foot banger from a free-kick. Right of centre, she wrapped her right instep around it and bent it over the wall. The keeper, Cata Coll, got there but could only tip it on to the bar and in.
At roughly the same moment Mackenzie Barry of New Zealand has put her side 1-0 up against the defending champions Canada.
Japan have scored the first goal of the women’s football tournament
Aoba Fujino has given Japan the lead against the world champions with a right-foot banger from a free-kick. Right of centre, she wrapped her right instep around it and bent it over the wall. The keeper, Cata Coll, got there but could only tip it on to the bar and in.
At roughly the same moment Mackenzie Barry of New Zealand has put her side 1-0 up against the defending champions Canada.
In the women’s handball
Six minutes into the second half and it’s 12-12 between South Korea and Germany. It’s been a proper nipper throughout. Kang Kyung-min has scored five for South Korea, Antje Döll four for Germany.
It’s all-square in the very physical match between South Korea and Germany with 20 minutes to go
Credit: REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
Fine second-half comeback by the All Blacks
With tries from Leroy Carter and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black converted by Andrew Knewstubb. New Zealand 14-12 Ireland.
That means NZ take on South Africa in the quarter-finals, having beaten them 17-5 yesterday. Fading in the second period means Ireland face the formidable prospect of Fiji in the quarter-finals.
Tonight’s QF schedule
NZ vs South Africa, 8pm
France vs Argentina, 8.30pm
Fiji vs Ireland, 9pm
Australia vs USA, 9.30pm
In the final pool match at the rugby sevens
Both sides have already qualified with two wins each yesterday but victory in this will give either Ireland or New Zealand a slightly easier quarter-final. Zac Ward and Jordan Conroy have scored a try apiece by half-time which were converted by Mark Roche. So with seven minutes left and worries over Jordan Conroy who was hurt when scoring, it’s Ireland 12-0 NZ.
Readers thoughts on Andy Murray pulling out of the singles
FLOTUS arrives
First Lady Dr Jill Biden arrived in Paris to meet the USA team and represent her country at tomorrow’s opening ceremnony
Credit: REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
South Africa qualify for Sevens quarter-finals
South Africa who were beaten by Ireland and New Zealand yesterday have walloped Japan 49-5 which has turned their points difference from -17 to +27 and that means they have pipped Samoa, who finished third in Group B, to the last open quarter-final place.
France to play Argentina in Sevens quarter-final
France’s defeat by Fiji and Argentina’s by Australia leaves them facing each other in tonight’s quarter-final. It is bound to be a grudge match given the ill-feeling towards Argentina in France provoked by Enzo Fernandez’s video of Argentina’s footballers singing a racist, anti-French song. Fiji will play at 9pm and Australia at 9.30pm against opponents TBC.
If the last few years are anything to go by, the Hollywood scriptwriters love a sequel – and in Paris this evening we’re set to have another blockbusting follow-up.
As the last few days have shown, there is no love lost between France and Argentina on the sports field, regardless of the shape of the ball. Now, those two sides – both finalists in the SVNS world series grand final – will face off in the quarter-finals of the men’s sevens at the Olympics. It could be extremely spicy, indeed – in the crowd as much as on the field.
At 8.30pm BST tonight, all eyes will be on the Stade de France.
That leaves Group B and Group C looking like this
Fiji win the group
Fiji have remained unbeaten in their third cycle of Olympic competition, beating France 19-12 after a raking try down the left from Joji Nasova, diving through the final tackle to dot down. Andy Timo scored with the last move of the game for France to give them hope for the knockout stages and Rayan Rabbadj converted.
Cometh the hour
Antoine Dupont comes off the bench for the remaining three and a half minutes after Fiji took the lead through Kaminieli Rasaku’s converted try. Fiji 12 France 5 with two minutes and 40 seconds left.
Half-time: France 5 USA 5
Wonderful hands from Fiji allow Jerry Tuwai, ‘World Sevens player of the decade’, to score on the right after a slippery run from Selesitino Ravautaumada.
…. to be continued
Read full article at the Original Source
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : The Telegraph – https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2024/07/25/paris-2024-thursday-live-latest-updates/