In a charged atmosphere at Bordeaux, France edged out Argentina 1-0 to advance to the men’s football semifinals at the Olympics on Friday. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early goal secured the win, but the match was marred by hostility from the home crowd and a post-match skirmish between players.
Mateta’s fifth-minute header, assisted by Michael Olise’s corner, set the tone for the match. Despite Argentina’s efforts to equalise, including a glaring miss from Giuliano Simeone, they couldn’t find the net. The French defense held strong, and although a late strike by Olise was disallowed after a VAR check, France maintained their lead.
The tension on the field was palpable, exacerbated by pre-existing animosities. The Argentine national anthem was drowned out by jeers, and their players were booed at every touch. The hostility was linked to a racism scandal involving an offensive song by Argentina players about French players of African heritage.
The match concluded with a melee as players clashed on the field, leading to shoving and pushing. French captain Alexandre Lacazette and coaches Thierry Henry and Javier Mascherano intervened to diffuse the situation. Amid the chaos, France’s Enzo Millot received a red card despite not being on the field at the time, a decision that left Henry displeased.
“I don’t like seeing this kind of thing. It wasn’t necessary,” Henry commented. He expressed frustration over losing a player to suspension, adding, “We were all united, the only drawback is getting a red on the bench.”
Security measures were ramped up with riot police forming a barrier around the Argentine fans as France supporters celebrated their victory with a lap of honor. This victory holds significant emotional weight for French fans, serving as a rematch of Argentina’s penalty shootout win in the 2022 World Cup final.
France’s win sets up a semifinal clash with Egypt, who defeated Paraguay 5-4 in a shootout earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Spain, who triumphed over Japan 3-0, will face Morocco, following their 4-0 victory against the United States.
France, seeking their second Olympic title after their 1984 triumph, showcased resilience and determination. As the tournament progresses, they aim to build on this momentum and capture another historic win.
Melissa Enoch
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