With a goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta, the host country beat Javier Mascherano’s team 1-0 in an early quarter-final. They will be Egypt’s opponents at Paris 2024.
Relive the best of France’s victory over Argentina
France
vs
Argentina
Fin
4′ 1T: France – Header by Jean Philippe Mateta
Argentina’s dream of reaching the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is over. Javier Mascherano’s team lost 1-0 to France with a goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta, one of the three seniors used by Thierry Henry.
At the Stade de Bordeaux, what was expected in the build-up came true: a spicy one-on-one, with deafening booing from the very first minute and incidents towards the end, after the relationship between the countries worsened following the racist song that was leaked during a live broadcast by Enzo Fernández during the celebrations for the Copa América title.
Philippe Mateta got one better of Nicolas Otamendi and headed in at the near post after a corner from the right by Michael Olise, four minutes into the first half. Unfortunately, goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli was unable to prevent the ball from changing direction in the goal that sealed the tie.
The hosts started well, even though things hadn’t settled down yet. From the start, until Argentina recovered, they found space and long balls in their favour, even with the occasional chance to extend the lead.
That was the moment of suffering for the national team, especially behind the defense. However, as the midfielders began to play, Cristian Medina, Ezequiel Fernández and Kevin Zenón, added to the company of Thiago Almada and the effort of Julián Álvarez, the albiceleste football grew.
Argentina could have tied the game, but Guillaume Restes made a great save from Equi Fernández’s long-range shot that was going in at the corner and Giuliano Simeone missed an incredible header.
The difference in the game was notable: France arrived with three or four passes and hurt, while the challenger strung together with technique and without crossing lines until reaching the rival area, sometimes with poorly finished overflows.
Thiago Almada handles the ball in France-Argentina, for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (@Argentina)
In the second half, Argentina took the lead with a territorial rather than football-based dominance. Although it had several opportunities, the U-23s suffered from inaccuracies and once again lacked clarity in attack.
Mascherano had no choice but to finish off with all his forwards on the pitch in search of the agonising equaliser that would never come. There was one totally unexpected one, that of Julio Soler, who had barely entered the game at half-time.
The blow after blow led to a lot of sloppiness and Olise’s 2-0, which the referee would annul through VAR for a previous foul on Equi Fernández, after Philippe Mateta had warned with the same formula. Or the crossbar that gave the Albiceleste another life.
Mascherano was desperate, on his knees and with his hands on his face. Lucas Beltrán, Claudio Echeverri, Simeone and Luciano Gondou tried in the final sprint, but nothing was enough to break history in Paris 2024. Now France – still unbeaten – will be the rival of Egypt, who eliminated Paraguay on penalties.
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