Hosts France will square off against Argentina in the Olympic men’s football quarter-finals after securing their place with a 3-0 victory over New Zealand.
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta opened the scoring for France in the 19th minute, and despite a strong defensive effort from New Zealand, goals from Desire Doue and Arnaud Kalimuendo in the second half sealed the win.
France dominated the match with 34 shots compared to New Zealand’s nine, capping off a perfect group stage where they won all three of their games, including victories over the United States and Guinea.
The upcoming quarter-final against Argentina is set against a backdrop of recent tensions. There have been reports of animosity between the two nations, with Argentine players reportedly singing a derogatory song about France’s black players after winning the Copa America on July 14.
This has fueled French fans’ displeasure, which was evident during the Olympics, where Argentina’s rugby sevens players faced boos from the crowd.
Argentina’s journey to the quarter-finals saw a controversial defeat to Morocco in their opening match, followed by a 3-1 win over Iraq, and a 2-0 victory over Ukraine to secure their place in the last eight.
Historically, France won the Olympic gold medal in 1984, while Argentina claimed the title in 2004 and successfully defended it in 2008.
The quarter-final clash promises to be a high-stakes encounter between two footballing powerhouses.
The highly-anticipated game will take place at the Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux on Friday, August 2, 2024.
