BTN News: The quarter-final match of the Paris 2024 Olympics between France and Argentina was not an ordinary game. From the moment the national anthems played in the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux, the tension was clear. This match carried the weight of a growing rivalry. The incidents of racism after the Qatar 2022 World Cup final had caused diplomatic tensions between the two nations. This set the stage for a fiercely contested and emotionally charged game. In the end, France won 1-0 and moved to the semifinals to face Egypt.
The stadium atmosphere was electric, with “La Marseillaise” being sung multiple times. For the French team and their fans, this was more than just a game; it was about national pride. Thierry Henry’s team, driven by the crowd, played aggressively from the start. Michael Olise, a 22-year-old talent who recently moved from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich for over 50 million euros, led the French attack with skill and creativity.
France dominated the first 30 minutes. Olise’s brilliance and the team’s athleticism were a constant threat to Argentina’s defense. The Argentine team, led by coach Javier Mascherano, started with Julián Álvarez as the lone striker, supported by Giuliano Simeone and Kevin Zenón on the sides, and Thiago Almada as the playmaker. Despite this setup, Argentina struggled to keep up with the French attack.
France scored early, with Jean-Philippe Mateta heading the ball into the net just five minutes into the game. This goal showed the physical strength of the French team, as Otamendi, who had already shown weaknesses during the group stages, was outmatched again. France continued to create many scoring chances but failed to score more, which gave Argentina some hope.
As the game went on, Argentina found their rhythm. Equi Fernández and, to a lesser extent, Zenón, began to control the midfield. By the 30th minute, Argentina started to pose a threat to the French goal. Cristian Medina made a great cross that found Giuliano Simeone, who missed a clear chance to equalize with a header. This near miss boosted Argentina’s confidence going into halftime.
In the second half, Argentina played with more determination, driven by the need to score. France, maybe without realizing it, started to play more defensively, allowing Argentina to have more of the ball. However, Argentina’s efforts were hurt by a lack of clear ideas and creativity in attack. Thiago Almada struggled to make an impact, and Zenón’s influence decreased. Julián Álvarez, tired from playing 71 games this season, looked exhausted and didn’t score during the tournament.
Mascherano made some changes, bringing on Luciano Gondou and Lucas Beltrán to strengthen the attack. Despite these changes, France’s disciplined defense kept Argentina from scoring. The game heated up when Michael Olise thought he had scored a second goal for France, but VAR ruled it out due to a foul. This decision gave Argentina hope, but they couldn’t take advantage of it.
In the final minutes, with ten minutes of added time, Argentina’s desperation was clear. Gondou missed a great chance to equalize, sending his shot over the bar. This was the last big moment of the game. When the final whistle blew, the French team and their fans celebrated wildly, showing how important this win was.
After the game, tensions boiled over. French player Enzo Millot taunted the Argentine bench, leading to scuffles between players and staff. The confrontation continued as the teams went to the dressing rooms, showing the intense emotions of the match.
France’s victory was more than just reaching the semifinals. It was a release of national pride and a statement of their football skill. The players went back on the field to celebrate with their fans, with music blasting and celebrations going on long after the game ended.
For Argentina, the defeat marked the end of a disappointing Olympic campaign. Despite having a team full of talent and world champions, they did not meet expectations. Coach Javier Mascherano, who had the chance to prove himself as a coach, now faces questions about his future. The national team’s winning aura, so strong at the senior level, did not continue in Paris. This left the Argentine delegation to think about missed chances and unfulfilled dreams.
