The French team will play its first match of the football tournament of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this Wednesday evening (9 p.m.) against the United States.
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 at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille (9 p.m.). And too bad if the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will not take place for two days on the banks of the Seine and the French players are a little far from the event. The objective 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.
Henry thinks he’s ready
For this first match in the competition, Thierry Henry believes that his team, as he assured on the eve of this meeting 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.” The Bleuets are coming off a large success against the Dominican Republic (7-0) and a draw against Japan (1-1) in their last two preparation matches.
Akliouche expected
Thierry Henry seems to have found the right tactic for his team with his 4-3-1-2. There remains only one real uncertainty for this match against the United States: who will play right midfield in this system? Enzo Millot has started the last two matches but the entry of Magnes Akliouche at half-time against Japan is likely to make Thierry Henry doubt. Having recovered from his thigh pain, the Monegasque could be launched from the start. The probable eleven for France: Restes – Sildillia, Badé, Lukeba, Truffert – Akliouche, M. Koné, Chotard – Olise – Mateta, Lacazette (cap.). As for the United States, 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 should start tonight. USA’s probable starting lineup: Schulte – Dietz, Zimmerman (cap.), Robinson, Tolkin – Busio, Tessmann, Mihailovic – Paredes, McGuire, Aaronson.
The French favorites
This match between France and the United States will be broadcast in the clear on TV, on France 2, but also on the private channel Eurosport, for which a subscription is required. To follow this match between the French and the Americans on the Internet, you must go to the France Télévisions website, France.tv, and create a free account to watch the match. In this Olympic Games match, France is the favorite by the various sports betting sites. The odds for a victory by the Bleuets range from 1.3 to 1.5, while those for an American victory in Marseille are between 6 and 7. The odds for a draw are around 4.5.