On Friday, Argentina’s players were booed throughout the match by a hostile crowd. The first few Argentina players came out to booing almost an hour before kick-off while their national anthem was also met with a chorus of jeers and whistles.
France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta headed home in the fifth minute for Thierry Henry’s team, which was enough to see them through. The hosts will face Egypt in the last four.
Result: France secured a 1-0 victory over Argentina.
Key Moment: In the 88th minute, Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the decisive goal for France.
Tensions: Needless to say, there is little love between France and Argentina following recent events, including their dramatic 2022 World Cup final. Tensions boiled over after the final whistle, resulting in a skirmish between the players12.
Context: This match was a rematch of the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals, adding extra intensity to the encounter.
Semifinal Qualification: With this win, France advances to the Olympic men’s soccer semifinals. Argentina, despite their strong performance, will exit the tournament.
Stay tuned for more exciting matches in the Paris Olympics
