France beat Egypt 3-1 to reach first Olympic football final in 40 years, will play Spain
PARIS – Coach Thierry Henry is looking forward to a “big game” against Spain, as France will play an Olympic men’s football final for the first time in 40 years after beating Egypt 3-1 in extra time in Lyon on Aug 5.
The Paris 2024 hosts fought back after conceding their first goal of the tournament when Mahmoud Saber grabbed a stunning lead for Egypt before Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled with a late strike.
Mateta completed his double in extra time before Michael Olise scored to earn Henry’s side the victory and extend their quest for a second Olympic title – after 1984 – in the Aug 9 final at Parc des Princes against Spain, who beat Morocco 2-1.
“What a night! All credit to the players. Egypt were really good today but we never stopped going and the fans pushed us forward,” former France striker Henry said.
“We have secured a medal now but we have one more step to go to win our first football gold medal after 40 years. Now Spain await us in the final and it’s going to be a big game.”
Egypt, who were playing in their third Olympic semi-final, had more shots on goal during the first half before Saber opened the scoring in the 62nd minute, capitalising on a rebound to power in a second attempt.
France, who hit the woodwork three times throughout the match, equalised when Mateta finally found the net seven minutes from time from an Olise pass through Egypt’s backline.
Egypt went down to 10 men early in extra time when Omar Fayed got a second yellow card for a foul on Desire Doue and they were dealt a further blow when Mateta scored again to put France ahead in the 99th minute.
“This was the night of my dreams,” Mateta said. “But I need one more night now to keep dreaming. This is for the fans, they kept chanting even after we went behind.”
Olise got on the scoresheet three minutes into the second half in extra time to seal the win and send Egypt to the bronze-medal match against confederation rivals Morocco in Nantes on Aug 8.
France advanced to take on Spain, who reached their second successive Olympic men’s football final when they beat Morocco thanks to second-half goals from Fermin Lopez and Juanlu Sanchez in Marseille.
The Spaniards, who lost to Brazil in the Tokyo 2020 final, also fought back after Morocco went ahead.
“It was an intense, tough, complicated, physical match but the team have bounced back in the most difficult match we have had so far,” goalkeeper Arnau Tenas told Spanish newspaper AS.
“We knew the level of Morocco both defensively and offensively.”
In an extended first half following an injury to referee Ilgiz Tantashev, who had to be replaced, Morocco opened the scoring in the 37th minute when the tournament’s top scorer Soufiane Rahimi converted a penalty for his sixth Olympic goal following a Pablo Barrios foul.
The 28-year-old Al-Ain striker has netted for Morocco in every match at the Games.
Referee Tantashev was then unable to continue after a Spanish player fell on his ankle and he was replaced by the fourth official Glenn Nyberg.
Spain were more dangerous after the break and equalised in the 66th minute when Barcelona’s Lopez pounced on some sloppy defending by Morocco to steal the ball in the box and strike home.
“I hope I can score in every game. The most important thing is that we took a step forward and got the win,” said the 21-year-old midfielder, who scored a brace in the 3-0 quarter-final win over Japan.
“From half-time onwards, we were ourselves and I think the team deserved the win for our effort.”
Substitute Sanchez earned the Spaniards the win five minutes from time after a fine team move from the right and a low shot from a tight angle. REUTERS
