Olympics: Richarlison nets hat-trick for Brazil; Argentina stunned

Richarlison helped Brazil open with a 4-2 win over Germany

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R The jig of joy seven minutes into his Olympic debut showed just why Richarlison was so determined to be allowed by Everton to come to Japan.

Even if it meant doing double duty with Brazil and extending the season even further and delaying his entry into the new English club Premier League campaign.

Wearing the famed golden No. 10 Brazil jersey, the 24-year-old forward isn't wasting time with his Olympic opportunity.

Just 11 days after losing the Copa America final to Argentina in Rio de Janeiro and now 10 time zones away with Brazil's under-23s team, Richarlison scored a hat-trick inside the opening half hour against Germany on Thursday.

It helped Brazil open the men's football tournament with a 4-2 victory.

And it started in the 7th minute by netting the rebound after his initial shot was blocked by Germany goalkeeper Florian Mller before leading his teammates into a dance.

It needed the players to create as much atmosphere as possible with only artificial crowd noise in Yokohama as the pandemic shut spectators out of this 70,000-plus capacity stadium.

Richarlison didn't wait long to celebrate again, heading past Mller in the 22nd and curling in a third in the 30th.