2024 Olympic Mens Football: France and Egypt Shine in Tense Quarter-Final Matches

2024 Olympic Mens Football Quarter-Finals: France Triumphs Over Argentina, Egypt Edges Past Paraguay to book Semi-Final spot.

The 2024 Olympics Games in France have reached an electrifying stage as the men’s football quarter-finals delivered nail-biting action and unforgettable moments. On Friday, France and Egypt emerged victorious in their respective matches, securing their spots in the semi-finals.

Here’s a detailed look at the dramatic events that unfolded in 2024 Olympic mens football quarter-finals.

France Knocks Out Argentina to Keep Home Dreams Alive

France vs Argentina: In a tense and thrilling encounter, France managed to overcome Argentina with a narrow 1-0 victory, keeping their hopes of an Olympic gold medal alive. The match, held at a raucous Stade de Bordeaux, saw Les Bleus deliver a standout defensive performance under the guidance of Thierry Henry.

Early Dominance by France

The game kicked off with France seizing an early lead. A well-placed corner by Michael Olise was met with a powerful header from Jean-Philippe Mateta, a former Crystal Palace connection. This early goal set the tone for France’s aggressive start, much to the delight of their fans.

Argentina Struggles to Find Rhythm

Argentina, led by Javier Mascherano, found it challenging to match the hosts’ intensity. Their first real opportunity came from Kevin Zenón, whose left-footed shot missed the target. Giuliano Simeone also squandered a golden chance to equalize, sending a header over the bar despite being unmarked.

Defensive Masterclass by France

As the first half progressed, France adopted a counter-attacking strategy, with Olise proving to be their most effective outlet. The second half saw continued dominance by Argentina in terms of possession, but they struggled to penetrate the solid French defense.

Controversial VAR Decision

With less than 10 minutes remaining, Olise thought he had doubled France’s lead with a deflected shot, leading to wild celebrations. However, a lengthy VAR check ruled out the goal due to a foul in the build-up, drawing boos from the home crowd. Despite Argentina’s relentless pressure during the extended injury time, France’s defense held firm. Even when Argentina managed to create chances, their efforts were off target. The final whistle confirmed France’s victory, knocking out the World Champions and keeping their dream of a home victory alive.

Egypt Reaches Semi-Finals After Dramatic Shootout Win

Egypt vs Paraguay: In another intense quarter-final, Egypt secured their place in the semi-finals with a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Paraguay, marking their first appearance in the Olympic semi-finals in 60 years. The match began with both sides displaying caution, resulting in a lack of clear opportunities. Egypt, buoyed by their surprise victory over Spain in the previous round, struggled to find their rhythm due to Paraguay’s relentless pressing.

Key Moments in Regular Time

Paraguay’s Diego Gómez tested Egyptian goalkeeper Hamza Alaa with a tame free kick, while Egypt threatened on the counter. Despite a scare involving captain Mohamed Elneny, Egypt continued to push forward. Paraguay’s Marcelo Pérez missed a crucial chance, sending his shot wide. Paraguay took the lead with under 20 minutes to go, thanks to a brilliant finish by Diego Gómez, assisted by Julio Enciso. However, Egypt’s Ibrahim Adel equalized in the dying minutes, forcing the game into extra time.

Penalty Shootout Victory

Extra time was marked by fatigue and strategic substitutions, leading to a penalty shootout. Hamza Alaa emerged as the hero, saving a crucial penalty from Paraguay’s Marcelo Pérez, securing Egypt’s historic victory.

Spain and Morocco Also Advance

Spain Overcomes Japan

Spain vs Japan: Spain showcased their dominance by defeating Japan 3-0 in Lyon. Barcelona youngster Fermin Lopez opened the scoring with a stunning long-range strike. Despite Japan’s resurgence and near-equalizers, Spain doubled their lead through Lopez again and sealed the victory with Abel Ruiz’s late goal.

Morocco Thrashes USA

Morocco vs USA: Morocco delivered an emphatic performance, thrashing the USA 4-0 at the Parc des Princes. Soufiane Rahimi scored a penalty, followed by goals from Ilias Akhomach, Achraf Hakimi, and El Mehdi Maouboub. Morocco’s clinical display ensured their place in the semi-finals against Spain.

Looking Ahead to the Semi-Finals

The semi-finals promise to deliver more excitement as France faces Egypt, and Spain takes on Morocco. These matches will determine which teams advance to the final and vie for the prestigious Olympic gold medal in men’s football.