July 25, (THEWILL) – France began their Olympic men’s football campaign with a 3-0 win over the United States at Paris 2024 on Wednesday. The match, held in Marseille, saw the hosts struggle initially before finding their rhythm in the second half.
Alexandre Lacazette broke the deadlock after an hour of play, scoring a crucial goal that shifted the momentum in France’s favour. Michael Olise, Bayern Munich’s recent signing, added a second with a curling shot from outside the box.
Loic Bade sealed the victory with a header from a corner five minutes before full time. Despite the convincing scoreline, France’s performance was not without its challenges.
The United States had several opportunities, including Djordje Mihailovic hitting the crossbar and John Tolkin’s header striking the post. French goalkeeper, Guillaume Restes, also made a crucial save to deny Paxten Aaronson.
Coach Thierry Henry will likely seek improvement in future matches, given the high expectations for the host nation. Historically, only four countries have won gold as Olympic hosts in men’s football, highlighting the challenge France faces in their quest for victory on home soil.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
