FRA vs ARG Highlights, Paris 2024 Olympics Football: Mateta goal powers France past Argentina

Argentina gets a golden chance late in the game. Gondou with the goal at his mercy at the far post. But he skews the left-footed shot. Referee calls time soon enough. France through to the semifinal. 

Otamendi chests one down and was about to take a shot before Olise nicks it off his toes. Brilliant interception. 

Good save from Restes to deny Argentina. France stream forward for a counter attack. Wins a corner kick and manages to waste a few seconds there. 

Ten minutes added on. Argentina should be happy with the amount of time added on. 

Hits the post! Loopy header from Kalimuendo and it goes off the top of the crossbar. France ever so close to daylight. 

Olise scores!! Brilliant move from France with the ball navigating from the right flank before reaching Olise inside the box. He takes a shot, which deflects off a defender and into the goal. But wait. VAR deems there is a foul in the buildup to the goal and it is disallowed. 

Another shot from Alvarez inside the box. Blocked away. France races forward for a counter attack and wins a corner. Swung in but flicked away by Argentina defence. 

Long ball into the French box. Otamendi climbs highest, but he can’t head it goalbound. He also seems to have fouled a French player in the process. France takes its time with the restart, making a few changes in the meanwhile. 

Sustained pressure from Argentina. Wins a corner down the left. But well defended by France. 

Lacazette looks to release Olise down the right. But the winger is caught off side. Argentina regroup. 

Corner for France down the right. Mateta makes the same exact run as the first goal. He gets his head onto it. But this time, he misses the target. 

Couple of changes for both sides. France looking to take this game deep. Argentina breaks free meanwhile. Alvarez gets a chance to shoot from inside the box. Skies it. 

Lacazette drives forward with the ball and almost enters the box before his ganged up by Argentine defence. Argentina push forward in attack. But no shot on target in this half yet. 

Medina is the next to get booked. Studs-on challenge from him against Lukebo. Quickly shown a yellow card. Medina’s coach Mashcerano also gets a warning after shouting at the referee. 

Lacazette continues to be involved in the game. He fouls Julian Alvarez just outside the box. But Argentina can’t make the set piece opportunity count. 

Lacazette looks to set France up on a counter attack. But he is dragged down by Fernandez. Referee gives a foul for France. 

Argentina starts the second half on the front foot. 

France holds onto the lead, just enough. A few tussles between the two sides before the break. 

Freekick for Argentina from a decent position. Looped into the box. Headed away by a determined French defence. 

Simeone brings Lacazette down in the French box to give away a freekick and that allows France some time to regroup after Argentina dominating the last few minutes. 

MISS!!! Free header for Simeone from inside the box after a clever flick on by Medina. But he somehow manages to miss the target. 

Olise drives into the box. But he is quickly crowded out by three Argentine defenders. Meanwhile Mateta is booked for a foul on Bruno Amione. 

Restes called into action. He palms away a long driven shot from Otamendi for a corner. Argentina though can’t use the set piece to their advantage. 

Patient build-up play from Argentina as they probe for an opening in the French defence. France breaks forward on a counter. Crucial block from Otamendi to prevent a tap in. 

Clever from Lacazette to twist past his marker. He is immediately brought down by di Cesare and he is shown the first yellow card of the game. 

Mateta with a chance to double the shoot. He latches onto a bouncing ball, but strikes it straight at the keeper. Missed opportunity. 

CHANCE!! Cross from the right into the Argentina box. Goal mouth scramble. Millot can’t just get the ball over the line. Argentina survives. France’s pace on the counter looks potent

Argentina yet to put together coherent attacking move. France’s defensive block has held up so far. 

French left-back Truffert called into action as he marshals a long ball back into the hands of goalkeeper Restes. Argentina looks to activate its wings to progress. 

Argentina already on the backfoot. France looks comfortable on and off the ball. 

The confidence is surging through the French side. Crisp passing as they slice through Argentina and move forward. No shot though. 

Olise wins a corner for France down the right. He swings it in and Mateta makes a rampaging run and flicks it past the Argentine keeper. 

FRA 1-0 ARG

Intense pressure upfield from France and Argentina almost makes a mess of it. Olise looks set to get free, but is tackled down immediately. 

And we are underway. Argentina in its traditional light blue kit. France in the dark blue variant. 

Host France and Argentina will extend their recent rivalry in men’s football as they meet for the first time at an Olympic tournament for a place in the semi-finals in a high-profile clash in Bordeaux on Friday.

France - Restes; Lukeba, Truffert, Bade, Sildillia, Kone, Olise, Lacazette, Millot, Chotard, Mateta

Argentina - Rulli; di Cesare, Garcia, Fernandez, Amione, Zenon, Medina, Alvarez, Almada, Otamendi, Simeone

Welcome to Sportstar’s Live Blog of the Olympics football quarterfinal between France and Argentina.