The host nation, France, will take on Argentina in the quarter-finals of the men’s Olympic football tournament after securing first place in Group A with a 3-0 victory over New Zealand.
France, having won their first two matches, only needed a draw to advance to the knockout stage. However, goals from captain Jean-Philippe Mateta, midfielder Désiré Doué, and forward Arnaud Kalimuendo in Marseille ensured a flawless group stage for Thierry Henry’s team.
This sets up a potentially heated clash in Bordeaux against Argentina, who finished second in Group B after a 2-0 win over Ukraine in Lyon. Thiago Almada’s goal just after halftime put Javier Mascherano’s side ahead, and Claudio Echeverri sealed the victory with a rebound goal in stoppage time.
Tensions between the two football nations have been high since the 2022 World Cup final, when Argentina fans chanted about French players with African heritage. Following Argentina’s Copa América win in July, a video surfaced showing Argentine players singing similar chants.
This prompted the French Football Federation to file a complaint with FIFA over “racist and discriminatory remarks.” While the investigation is ongoing, a diplomatic incident erupted between the countries, leading to a meeting between Argentine President Javier Milei and French President Emmanuel Macron to resolve the issue.
