There is no love lost between France and Argentina on the football field, and their quarter-final clash in Bordeaux on Friday will surely heat up the men’s Olympic tournament. This match-up is precisely what the competition, primarily featuring players under 23 and lacking star power, needs to capture the public’s attention. The encounter between these two top contenders for gold in Paris on August 9 offers plenty of reasons for fans to tune in.
This will be the first meeting of the two nations since the controversy in mid-July, when Argentina players were caught on video singing racist chants about their French counterparts while celebrating their Copa America victory.
FIFA announced an investigation into the chants, which targeted France’s star striker Kylian Mbappe and included racist and homophobic slurs. The incident even escalated into a diplomatic row, with Argentina apologizing after the country’s vice president, Victoria Villarruel, criticized France as a “colonialist country” on social media, calling for an end to “feigned outrage.”
Argentina players have faced boos from rival fans during the Olympics and can expect a hostile reception from the French crowd. “Given everything that has happened recently, everyone in France was affected, so we will see what happens in the quarter-finals,” said France’s Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta after the hosts completed the group stage with three wins.
This game also marks the first encounter since the thrilling 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, where Argentina triumphed on penalties after a 3-3 draw. However, the Olympic football tournament is mainly for players under 23, with only up to three over-age players allowed per squad. As a result, only Nicolas Otamendi and Julian Alvarez from Argentina’s Olympic team participated in the 2022 final, with no members of France’s Olympic squad having played in that match.
While this might reduce some of the tension, the game still promises to be a captivating contest. Argentina, seeking their third Olympic gold after victories in 2004 and 2008, have high hopes. France, aiming for football gold on home soil 40 years after their 1984 triumph in Los Angeles, are equally determined.
“If we want to come away with the medal, we have to be ready to play any opponent wherever it might be,” Argentina’s Thiago Almada, an unused substitute in the 2022 World Cup final, told TyC Sports.
The teams feature few household names, although Manchester City’s Alvarez will lead Argentina’s attack, while France’s captain Alexandre Lacazette and new Bayern Munich signing Michael Olise will be key players. Both sides are guided by legendary coaches: France by 1998 World Cup-winner Thierry Henry, and Argentina by former Barcelona star Javier Mascherano, who won Olympic gold in 2004 and 2008.
The winner will advance to a semi-final in Lyon next Monday against either Egypt or Paraguay, who play their quarter-final in Marseille. Other quarter-final matches on Friday include Morocco versus the United States in Paris, and Spain against Japan in Lyon. Spain, fresh off their Euro 2024 victory, are seeking their second Olympic men’s football gold, while Japan, the only team besides France to win all three group games, bring a young squad to the tournament.
