Michael OLISE (FRA) during the Quarter-Final match between France U23 and Argentina U23 at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The game took place on August 2, 2024, at Stade Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Anthony Bibard/FEP/Icon Sport via Getty Images).
Crystal Palace striker Mateta scored five minutes into the quarter-final, connecting with Michael Olise’s corner for a brilliant near-post header. This goal secured the hosts, led by Thierry Henry, a spot in the semi-finals where they will face Egypt. This match marked the first encounter between the nations since Argentina players were recorded singing racist chants about their French counterparts after winning the Copa America in mid-July.
FIFA announced an investigation into the chants, which included racist and homophobic insults directed at France’s star striker Kylian Mbappe among others.
Tensions escalated after the match in Bordeaux, with players and staff clashing on the pitch and in the tunnel. The Argentine team faced a hostile reception, with the crowd jeering their national anthem, reminiscent of their 2022 World Cup final victory on penalties. Henry revealed that midfielder Enzo Millot, who was substituted late in the game, received a red card after the final whistle.
“He wasn’t on the pitch. You might get a second yellow for stopping a goal-scoring opportunity, but not from the bench. I’m really unhappy about that,” Henry told France 3. Giuliano Simeone and Julian Alvarez missed chances for Javier Mascherano’s Argentina, and the elimination of the two-time gold medalists means the men’s football gold will not go to a Latin American team for the first time since Cameroon won in Sydney in 2000.
France could have extended their lead, but Olise’s late second goal was disallowed for a foul in the build-up.
Spain and Morocco continue their progress. France will be strong favorites in their semi-final against Egypt in Lyon on Monday, after Egypt beat Paraguay 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Marseille. Ibrahim Adel was Egypt’s hero, scoring a late equalizer in normal time and the winning penalty in the shoot-out, where Paraguay’s Marcelo Perez was the only player to miss.
Earlier, a brilliant brace by Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez led Spain to a 3-0 victory over Japan in Lyon. Lopez, part of Spain’s Euro 2024 winning squad, opened the scoring with a long-range strike in the 11th minute..
The Barcelona midfielder scored again in the 73rd minute with a superb goal, controlling a Sergio Gomez corner before volleying in from the edge of the box. Captain Abel Ruiz sealed the victory for Spain, the Olympic champions from 1992 and silver medalists three years ago in Tokyo. Spain will face Morocco in the semi-finals in Marseille after Morocco outclassed the United States, winning 4-0 in Paris.
Soufiane Rahimi opened the scoring from the penalty spot after being fouled in the box just before the half-hour mark, marking his fifth goal in four games as the tournament’s top scorer. Morocco doubled their lead in the 63rd minute when Abde Ezzalzouli set up Ilias Akhomach for a near-post finish. Captain Achraf Hakimi, playing at his Paris Saint-Germain home ground, made it 3-0, and substitute Mehdi Maouhoub added another penalty in stoppage time.
“If we keep playing like this, we will deserve to be in the final,” said Akhomach. “Other countries might get more attention, but we know what we want. We came here to win.”
SKJ 
Sonia Orjiako