The Bleuets face the United States this Wednesday evening (9 p.m.) for their first match in the men’s football tournament of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Follow the match live with commentary with us.
21:20 – Henry frustrated
We can sense Thierry Henry and his assistants frustrated on the sidelines. The Blues are not managing to develop their game at all and are struggling to get close to the American goal.
21:17 – First yellow card for Sildillia
French right-back Kiliann Sildillia was the first player to receive a yellow card after an uncontrolled intervention on Tolkin, after he tried to attempt a sombrero trick.
21:14 – First corner for France
The French also get their first corner in this match. Michael Olise takes it but it goes straight into the arms of the American goalkeeper, Schulte.
21:12 – First dangerous corner for the United States
The Americans get their first corner in this match on the right side. Djordje Mihailovic hits it well at the near post and the ball is deflected but not enough to worry Guillaume Restes. Be careful though!
21:09 – France is struggling
The French are struggling to find their feet in these first minutes and are struggling to touch their playmaker, Michael Olise. The new Bayern Munich player is very discreet at the moment.
21:06 – Lukeba is looking for Chotard
The Blues take up position in the American camp for the first time since the start of the match. Lukeba tries to make the difference by finding Chotard in depth but his pass is too strong.
21:03 – The Velodrome is full
Thierry Henry’s players can count on a completely full Stade Vélodrome to cheer them on tonight, even though it is still over 30 degrees in Marseille.
21:00 – Let’s go between France and the United States!
The Argentine referee Mr. Falcon whistles the kick-off of this match between France and the United States! It is the Blues who start in this first period.
20:55 – Time for the hymns
The players have come out onto the pitch and it’s time for the anthems at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, which is packed to the brim for this match. Before the Marseillaise in honour of France, it’s time for the American anthem.
20:50 – New Zealand beat Guinea
In the first match played in Group A, New Zealand beat Guinea (2-1) at the Allianz Riviera in Nice. The New Zealanders scored thanks to Matthew Garbett (25th) and Ben Waine (76th), while Amadou Diawara (72nd) scored the only Guinean goal.
8:45 p.m. – The last time the Blues won the Olympic Games was in 1984.
The French men’s football team has only won the Olympic Games once, in 1984 at the Los Angeles Olympics, a few weeks after Michel Platini’s Blues won the Euro. 40 years later, on home soil, Thierry Henry’s players are hoping to repeat this feat, while Brazil, the two-time defending champion, is absent from the table. But watch out for Spain, who are the favourites for the final victory.
20:40 – A first since 2008 for the USA
The U.S. team is largely comprised of players from the national league, Major League Soccer, with ten players playing in MLS out of the eighteen selected for the tournament. This is particularly the case for the three players over the age of 23 called up, namely Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson and midfielder Djordje Mihailovic. The United States is back in the men’s Olympic football tournament for the first time since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “Our goal is to make the country proud and give everything for the United States,” U.S. coach Marko Mitrović told the U.S. Soccer Federation website.
20:35 – A draw between the two teams in March
Les Bleus are coming off a big win against the Dominican Republic (7-0) and a deceptive draw against Japan (1-1), as they dominated the match during their last two preparation matches. In March, the French already faced the Americans in Sochaux. Decimated by a virus, Thierry Henry’s players led 2-0 before being caught at the end of the match (2-2).
20:29 – France-Henry: “I think we are ready”
For this first match in the competition, Thierry Henry believes that his team, as he assured on the eve of this encounter against the Americans, whom he knows well after his time in MLS, at the Montreal Impact in 2020. “I think we are ready but only the pitch answers this question, confided the French coach. There is no point in putting pressure on ourselves, it will also be up to the players to take the reins, with their feelings. (…) But you always think you are ready. You always think you can win. I remain measured but it’s pretty good.”
20:23 – United States: Mitrovic relies on his executives
On the United States side, the selection has been strengthened with three experienced players for these Olympic Games: Walker Zimmerman (31 years old), Miles Robinson (27 years old) and Djordje Mihailovic (26 years old). All three are starting tonight, including the first two in the center of defense for the team put together by coach Marko Mitrović. USA starting lineup: Schulte – Harriel, Zimmerman (cap.), Robinson, Tolkin – Busio, Tessmann, Mihailovic – Paredes, McGuire, Aaronson.
20:17 – France: Akliouche on the bench
Thierry Henry seems to have found the right tactic for his team with his 4-3-1-2, even if there was uncertainty until the end for the right midfield position in this system. Enzo Millot started the last two games but Maghnes Akliouche’s great entrance at half-time against Japan had sown doubts. Clearly, not in the mind of Thierry Henry, who chose Millot to start. France’s starting eleven: Remains – Sildillia, Badé, Lukeba, Truffert – Millot, M. Koné, Chotard – Olise – Mateta, Lacazette (cap.).
20:11 – An expected entry into the competition
After five weeks of preparation, the French men’s football team will finally make its debut in the Olympic tournament this Wednesday evening against the United States. The goal of Thierry Henry’s players is above all to start well against the Americans, who are certainly the most dangerous opponent in this Group A which also contains Guinea and New Zealand.
20:05 – Kick-off at 21:00
The kick-off for this first match of the Blues in this Olympic Games tournament will be given at 9 p.m. on the pitch of the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, by the Argentinian referee Yael Falcon.
8:00 p.m. – Good evening everyone!
Good evening and welcome to all to follow France’s entry into the men’s football tournament of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with a match against the United States this Wednesday evening.