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France advanced to the Olympic men's football semifinals by defeating Argentina 1-0 in a thrilling quarterfinal encounter on Friday. Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace scored a vital goal five minutes into the game to seal the victory. France advanced in the tournament thanks to Mateta's clinching header from a corner given by Michael Olise.
All of us can now agree that the biggest football rivalry at the national team level is now Argentina vs France.
— Jagaban_MCFC 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@mcfc_jagaban) August 2, 2024
It is now looking like an eye for an eye. Another fight btw them after the final whistle in the QF of the Olympic which France won.#Paris2024… pic.twitter.com/RVXj2rwfFG
The French team remained calm during ten minutes of extra time despite a tense conclusion in which a late goal by Michael Olise was disallowed because of a foul in the build-up. Their dedication and determination secured them a win and a trip to the semifinals, where they will face Spain, Morocco, and Egypt in the championship match.
Being the first meeting between France and Argentina since the Copa America scandal in July, the Bordeaux match carried extra importance. Racist chants directed towards French players, particularly the talented attacker Kylian Mbappe, were heard by Argentine players during the Copa America celebrations. FIFA declared that it would look into these events, which included remarks that were both sexist and racist.
Thank you France for humbling Argentina. pic.twitter.com/QYqh3hCBmx
— Janty (@CFC_Janty) August 2, 2024
The Argentine team was met with opposition in Bordeaux, creating a tense scene. The Argentine national anthem was criticized by the crowd as a way of expressing their displeasure. The memory of Argentina's victory over France in a penalty shootout in the 2022 World Cup final caused even more anger.
France's victory over Argentina, led by coach Thierry Henry, gave them a sense of forgiveness in addition to securing their place in the semifinals. The French team will now resume their efforts to win an Olympic gold medal. The tournament's next round is scheduled for August 9 in Paris.
