France and Argentina faced off in what can be described as a grudge match in the Olympics men’s football that ended in France’s favour.
Jean-Philippe Mateta emerged as the hero for France, scoring a crucial goal in the fifth minute with a powerful header.
The goal proved to be the deciding factor as France managed to hold off Argentina’s relentless attacks throughout the match.
Despite their best efforts, Argentina were unable to find the back of the net, with substitute Luciano Gondou missing a golden opportunity to equalize. In the end, France emerged victorious with a narrow one-goal margin.
Meanwhile, France had the opportunity to increase their lead, but a late goal from Olise was disallowed due to a foul in the build-up. Nevertheless, the French team put on a solid defensive display to secure their place in the semi-finals.
With this impressive victory, France moved one step closer to Olympic gold as they continued their journey in the 2024 Olympics men’s football tournament.
France booed Argentina after beating them in the Olympics
This was the first meeting between the nations since Argentina players were caught singing racist chants about their French counterparts while celebrating their Copa America victory in mid-July.
The Argentina team faced a hostile reception in Bordeaux, with the crowd loudly booing their national anthem. This encounter marked their first meeting since the 2022 World Cup final, which Argentina won on penalties.
Tensions ran high throughout the match, with players and staff engaging in on-field clashes that carried over into confrontations in the tunnel after the final whistle.
Meanwhile, the loss against France was a tough pill to swallow for Argentina having hoped to couple the Copa America trophy with the Olympic gold medal.
Spain and Morocco qualify for the Semifinals
In a thrilling match in Lyon, Spain secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Japan, thanks in large part to a stellar performance by Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez.
Lopez, who was a key player in Spain’s successful Euro 2024 campaign, kicked off the scoring in the 11th minute with a powerful strike from distance.
The Barcelona midfielder continued to impress, securing his brace with a stunning goal in the 73rd minute. Lopez controlled a corner from Sergio Gomez before volleying the ball into the net from the edge of the box.
Afterward, the victory was sealed by Spain’s captain, Abel Ruiz, completing a comprehensive win for the team.
Spain, who have a rich history in Olympic football with a gold medal in 1992 and a silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, will be looking to build on this strong start in Lyon.
Elsewhere, Morocco secured a spot in the last four of the Olympic tournament after a dominating 4-0 victory over the United States in Paris.
Soufiane Rahimi opened the scoring with a penalty kick just before the half-hour mark, marking his fifth goal in four games and solidifying his position as the tournament’s top scorer.
Morocco continued their strong performance in the second half, with Abde Ezzalzouli assisting Ilias Akhomach for the team’s second goal in the 63rd minute.
Captain Achraf Hakimi extended the lead to 3-0 with a goal of his own, showcasing his skills on his home ground at Paris-Saint-Germain.
Substitute Mehdi Maouhoub sealed the victory for Morocco with another penalty goal in stoppage time, securing their spot in the next round.
The team’s impressive performance has set the stage for an exciting last-four clash as they aim to continue their success in the tournament.
Olympics Men’s semi-final fixtures
Morocco will face off against Spain on Monday, August 5 at 5 pm. Following that, France will take on Egypt at 8 pm on the same day following their 5-4 victory against Paraguay on penalties.
