France vs U.S.A. – France Defeats U.S. 3-0 in Group Stage Opener
France dominated the U.S. en route to a 3-0 win in the group stage opener of the Olympic men’s soccer tournament.
Held scoreless in the first half despite dominating possession, the French broke through in the second half. Alexandre Lacazette opened the scoring in the 61st minute with a low strike, followed by Michael Olise’s goal eight minutes later. Loïc Badé added a final goal in the 85th minute with a powerful header.
Match Formations
The U.S. men, participating in the Olympics for the first time since the 2008 Beijing games, were composed and created chances in the first 60 minutes but ultimately couldn’t match France’s talent. Despite the scoreline, the U.S. showed promise, with close chances including a long-range effort from Djordje Mihailovic hitting the crossbar and headers from Paxten Aaronson and John Tolkin nearly leveling the game.
France’s goals came from their aggressive play, recording more shots, shots on goal, and taking six more corners than the U.S. Both countries were represented by their U23 squads, with Lacazette, the 33-year-old captain, leading France.
The U.S. faces increased pressure with their next match against New Zealand on Saturday, needing a win to keep their knockout stage hopes alive. Changes to the lineup may be expected, with players like Griffin Yow, whose late goal was ruled offside, potentially making an impact.
Match Summary:
- Goals:
- FRA — Alexandre Lacazette (61’)
- FRA — Michael Olise (69’)
- FRA — Loïc Badé (85’)
- Key Moments:
- 61’ — Lacazette scores from 25 yards out, assisted by Olise.
- 63’ — Aaronson’s header saved by Restes; Tolkin’s header hits the post.
- 69’ — Olise curls a shot past Schulte, assisted by Lacazette.
- 85’ — Badé heads in from a corner, assisted by Chotard.
Additional Notes:
- This was the U.S. Olympic Men’s National Team’s first match in 5,824 days.
- The U.S. defended well early on, with notable performances from Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman.
- The match saw all 16 U.S. players making their Olympic debut.
- The Olympic Men’s Soccer Tournament features players under 23, with three overage players allowed per team.
- Tanner Tessmann captained the U.S. squad, marking his fifth time wearing the armband this cycle.
- The U.S. has a 4-4-5 record in the group stage since the U23 rule was introduced in 1992.
The U.S. team aims to bounce back from this defeat and secure a crucial win against New Zealand to keep their Olympic journey alive.
