New Delhi: France advances to the men’s football final in the Paris Olympics 2024 after beating Egypt 3-1 in extra-time drama. They will now face Spain in the finals. The hosts were coming to the game after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the quarter-finals and were riding high on confidence. Egypt were part of an exciting game against Paraguay in the quarter-finals and won in a penalty shootout after drawing the game 1-1.
Mahmoud Saber opened the deadlock when he scored Egypt’s first goal in the 62nd minute. In fact, Egypt had more shots at goal in the first half of the match. Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the equaliser for France in the 83rd minute when he swept a pass from Michael Olise. In the 92nd minute, Omar Fayed received his second yellow card and was hence dismissed from the game. His previous booking was in second-half stoppage time when he protested a penalty appeal from France, which was not given after a VAR review.
LYON, FRANCE – AUGUST 05: Players of France celebrate during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 football match between France and Egypt at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon, France on August 05, 2024. (Photo by Fareed Kotb/Anadolu via Getty Images)
From then on, it was France’s game, as Egypt struggled against the hosts, playing with ten players. Mateta doubled his effort with a header and scored France’s second goal nine minutes into extra time after being assisted by Kiliann Sildillia. The France team was in no mood to take their foot from the throttle and kept pressing Egypt. Olise scored the third and final goal of the evening in the second period of extra time, sealing the win for the hosts. The win also means they have won all five of the games in this year’s Olympics under Thierry Henry.
Henry later expressed his delight at how his players turned out for the game. He also mentioned that Egypt had played brilliantly, but it was the resilience of the French side and a determination to win that ultimately pushed Les Bleus to victory. He further noted that whilst they secured their second medal, they would like to bring home the gold medal after 40 years. He noted that their game against Spain would be a “big game.”
𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐋𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐂 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒 🇫🇷😍🔥
Les Bleus triumph 3-1 against Egypt in the semis! The dream is still alive 🥇🤩
🇫🇷3-1🇪🇬 | #FRAEGY | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/dftpHMN6Oo
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) August 5, 2024
France are now looking for their second Gold medal in the Olympics, having already won in the 1984 Olympics. France are now headed to meet Spain in Parc de Princes in Paris on Thursday. In their last encounter against Spain, the hosts lost the semi-final of the Euro 2024 2-1. Egypt will meet Morocco in Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes for the bronze-medal match.
Late goals from Mateta and Olise help France beat Egypt 3-1 in the semi-final of Paris Olympics 2024 men’s football tournament. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
