The adventure continues! The French men’s team has qualified for the final of the Olympic Games football tournament and can still dream of a golden consecration.
After the stormy quarter-final against Argentina (1-0), Thierry Henry’s players suffered in another way in this semi-final against Egypt in Lyon. The Pharaohs opened the scoring in the second half, on a powerful strike from Mahmoud Saber (0-1, 63rd), and we then feared for France a disappointment comparable to that caused by the Blues during their defeat in the quarter-finals against Brazil.
Mateta the providential man
It must be said that the Tricolores were unlucky for a long time. Loïc Badé had placed a header on the post in the first half (41st) and the Egyptians were saved on two other occasions by their posts on the same action, with a post for captain Alexandre Lacazette and the bar for Badé, again (75th).
The Blues were finally freed by Jean-Philippe Mateta, who made good use of an opening from Michael Olise (1-1, 83rd). And it was the same Mateta who gave his team the lead in extra time, on a pass from Killian Sildillia (2-1, 99th). The Crystal Palace striker, a surprise on Henry’s list, confirmed that he is the providential man for the Blues with this fourth goal in the competition.
With a goal from Michael Olise (3-1, 108th), the Tricolores killed the suspense and offered France a second Olympic final after the gold medal in Los Angeles in 1984. It will be Friday at the Parc des Princes, for a dream final against Spain.
