France secured their spot in the semi-finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics men’s football tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Argentina.
Jean-Philippe Mateta was the hero of the match for France, scoring the only goal with a brilliant near-post header off a corner delivered by Michael Olise.
The win advanced France to the last four and kept their dream of winning gold on home soil alive.
The showdown marked the first encounter between France and Argentina since the controversial 2024 Copa America, where Argentina players were reported to have made racist chants targeting their French counterparts, prompting FIFA to launch an investigation.
The tense atmosphere during the Paris Olympics football match was evident as the Argentine team faced a hostile reception in Bordeaux, with contentious moments both on and off the pitch.
Despite the intense nature of the match, France’s victory was well-deserved, although they were denied a late second goal due to a foul in the build-up.
Immediately after the final whistle, there was a chaotic scene in which the players from both teams had a go at each other. It took the intervention of match officials and stewards to bring normalcy.
In other Olympic football events, Spain and Morocco secured their spots in the semi-finals. Spain delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Japan, with Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez shining with a breathtaking brace, while Morocco’s dominant 4-0 win over the United States highlighted their prowess in the tournament.
Looking ahead, the stage is set for an exciting showdown in the semi-finals, where France will face Egypt, and Spain will take on Morocco.
As the competition heats up, football fans around the world eagerly anticipate the thrilling clashes that will determine who advances to compete for the prestigious Olympic gold medal in football.
