Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 12:04 pm• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 12:40

Antony will not return to Ajax for the time being. The wing attacker qualified with Brazil on Wednesday for the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games. In the final group match, Saudi Arabia won 1-3, making the first place in group D a fact. Antony once again had a basic place with the Brazilian team, although the winger was taken off the field prematurely.

Brazil got off to an energetic start in Saitama, which resulted in Matheus Cunha’s opening goal in the fourteenth minute. Saudi Arabia was not deterred by the early deficit and after half an hour of play Abdulelah Al Amri signed for the equalizer. Brazilian national coach André Jardine decided to leave Antony in the dressing room at halftime. Malcom replaced the Ajax attacker on the right flank. However, it took a while before Brazil finally took the game to itself.

Richarlison was the celebrated man on the side of the Brazilians in the final phase. The Everton striker found the net in the 76th minute and well into stoppage time. The 1-3 victory put Brazil firmly in the lead in Group D and a place in the last eight countries of the Olympic Games. On Saturday, Antony and his associates will face a confrontation with the number two from Group C. At the moment, Australia and Argentina share second place with both three points from two matches. The last group matches will be played in this group on Wednesday, so that Brazil quickly knows who the next opponent is.

For Germany, still a losing finalist at the 2016 Olympic Games, the tournament is already over. Die Mannschaft did not go further than a draw (1-1) against Ivory Coast on Wednesday and third place in the group means elimination. Thanks to the second place, a duel in the quarterfinals awaits Ivory Coast. Scoreless Saudi Arabia bids inglorious goodbye to the Olympic Games with three defeats.

So it will be for Ajax to wait and see when Antony is available again for trainer Erik ten Hag. The final of the Olympic Games is scheduled for August 8, when the Amsterdam club takes on PSV in the Johan Cruijff Scale game. A week later, the new Eredivisie season opens against NEC. In addition to Antony, Edson Álvarez is also not available for the time being, because the defender annex midfielder is in the semifinals of the Gold Cup with Mexico. Canada will be the opponent in the semi-final on Friday.