Richarlison fired a first-half hat-trick before nervy Brazil almost squandered a 3-0 lead against Germany in their Tokyo 2020 opener, while Australia stunned Argentina.

Reigning Olympic champions Brazil eventually toppled Germany 4-2 in the Group D opener in Yokohama, a rematch of the final from the 2016 Games in Rio that went to a penalty shoot-out.

Brazil were pegged back to 3-2 on this occasion before Paulinho s stoppage-time strike ended 10-man Germany s hopes of snatching a draw.

Richarlison made a seventh-minute breakthrough when Germany defender Amos Pieper slipped to allow the Everton striker a clear run on goal. Although his first shot was pushed out by Florian Mueller, Richarlison lashed in the rebound on the half-volley.

A close-range header …

Premier League winner Shinji Okazaki has signed for Spanish side Malaga after leaving Leicester City on a free transfer.

The Japan international moves to the Segunda Division outfit on a one-year deal and becomes the first Asian player in Malaga s history.

Okazaki, 33, departed Leicester following the expiry of his contract at the end of June.

He spent four seasons at the King Power Stadium and scored 14 league goals, including five on the way to the Foxes famous title triumph in 2015-16.

Okazaki will be officially presented as a Malaga player at a news conference on Wednesday.

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Cardiff City boosted their Premier League survival hopes with a crucial 2-0 victory over fellow relegation candidates Brighton and Hove Albion.

Brighton could have moved eight points clear of Cardiff, who occupy the final relegation spot in the table, with a win on Tuesday, yet it was the Bluebirds who triumphed thanks to goals from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Sean Morrison.

The Seagulls may well point to what appeared to be a clear penalty not given their way, but Chris Hughton s side were punished for missing a glut of early chances when Mendez-Laing struck midway through the first half.

And their hopes of a comeback were dashed five minutes after the restart, visiting captain Morrison heading home to move Cardiff to within two points of their rivals, albeit Br…

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is looking at Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino if Antonio Conte leaves in the summer of 2022, according to . It has been reported that if Conte decides to leave Tottenham at the end of the season, then Spurs chairman Levy would look to bring Pochettino back to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Pochettino was brilliant during his time at Tottenham and guided the North London club to the Champions League final in 2019. Under the Argentine boss, Tottenham came close to winning the Premier League title twice.

Conte was appointed the Tottenham head coach only a few months ago, and the Italian tactician recently gave an interview to Sky Sport Italia in which he suggested that he does not see Spurs becoming winners anytime soon…

Gareth Southgate expects talks over his future as England manager to resume after his side secures a spot at next year s World Cup. 

Southgate s current deal is due to expire after Qatar 2022, but it sounds as if he and Football Association officials would like to continue the union. 

In the meantime, though, Southgate said he is focused on qualification, which could be secured in mid-November fixtures against Albania and San Marino. 

England hold a four-point lead in Group I heading into Tuesday s game against Hungary at Wembley. 

I think I said last month that I had asked to put that [contract talks] further back into the autumn as I just wanted to focus on these games and also to give the time to make the right decision, Southgate said.

A…

According to a recent report from Sky Sports, Bournemouth are leading the charge to sign Jack Butland during the summer transfer window. The 26 year old goalkeeper has been with Stoke City since back in 2013, and has also spent time on loan at the times of Birmingham City, Leeds, Barnsley and Derby. The belief is that Cherries boss Eddie Howe has been an admirer of Butland for quite some time now, and given Butland’s strong season so far with Stoke, it makes all the sense in the world for him to consider a move to the Premier League. Butland still has two years remaining on his current contract, but in order to break into the England setup once again, it certainly seems like he’s going to have to make some changes. Butland first appeared for the national team back in 2012, but afte…

Luis Rubiales, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has rejected claims of wrongdoing after reports that Gerard Pique asked him to intervene in the selection of Spain s squad for the Tokyo Olympics.

A series of conversations between Rubiales and Pique have been leaked by Spanish publication El Confidencial in recent days, focusing on Pique s involvement in moving the Supercopa de Espana to Saudi Arabia.

New leaks, however, appear to show Pique asking Rubiales to ensure he was picked for the delayed 2020 Olympic Games, at which he wished to make his Spain return after retiring from international football in 2018.

Pique is allegedly heard telling Rubiales in one audio message: You have to do this for me Rubi, you have to get it for me, refere…

Luis Suarez says he is a perfectionist but the Uruguay forward believes his form is on an upward curve ahead of a World Cup last-16 showdown with Portugal.

Suarez had a tough start to Russia 2018, drawing a blank in a flat performance as Oscar Tabarez s men edged past Egypt 1-0 in their opening Group A game. 

Yet the Barcelona striker bounced back by hitting the winner to down Saudi Arabia before finding the net again in a 3-0 win over Russia, as Uruguay headed into the knockout rounds with maximum points.

I am a lot better than in the first game, Suarez told reporters ahead of facing Portugal on Saturday. On a personal level, I am very much a perfectionist.

After games I always look back at what happened, talk to my team-mates, with the coach.

<…

Mauricio Pochettino has distanced himself from suggestions he is in line to replace Gerardo Martino as Argentina boss, claiming it is not the right moment to leave Tottenham.

The 44-year-old was one of the names linked with the vacancy, created when Martino resigned shortly after Argentina s Copa America final defeat to Chile and amid issues relating to squad selection for the Olympics.

But Pochettino, who signed a new five-year contract in May, insists he is happy at White Hart Lane.

I think the speculation is normal because I am an Argentinian coach at a top club in England, the Spurs manager told reporters in Melbourne ahead of Tuesday s International Champions Cup match with Juventus.

There are a lot of rumours that appear in the media but I am happ…

Jurgen Klopp has sympathy for Marco Silva but says he is not surprised the Everton manager s position is subject to fevered speculation.

Silva has overseen a poor start to the season, with a last-gasp defeat to Leicester City on Sunday leaving them languishing 17th in the Premier League.

The Portuguese takes his beleaguered side to Anfield for the Merseyside derby on Wednesday knowing another defeat could see him lose his job.

Klopp saw enough in the defeat to the Foxes to suggest the Toffees are capable of turning a corner but knows a club with Everton s ambitions can only remain patient for so long.

Of course, I have sympathy [with Silva] because I know how difficult the life of a manager can be, the German told a media conference.

The last th…