Lyon (AFP) – The bet won and medal assured for the Blues. Shaken, but carried by the atmosphere of the Lyon stadium, Thierry Henry’s French team joined Spain in the final of the Olympic tournament on Monday by beating Egypt with difficulty (3-1), at the end of extra time.
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Thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta, who scored twice, and Michael Olise, who provided the assist and scored, the Bleuets are continuing their path to gold. Unlike the Bleues, they have taken the Olympic train and will return to the Parc des Princes and Paris on Friday, where they will fully immerse themselves in the adventure of the Games.
With this victory, they validated a first medal for men’s football in 40 years. You had to go back to 1984 for the one and only medal, gold, the same summer as that of the European champion title of Michel Platini’s team. Rarely qualified for the Games or pitifully eliminated during the tournament, the French team finally took its revenge on Monday at the Stade de Lyon, finally almost full for the Olympics.
But it was difficult for the teammates of Alexandre Lacazette, home captain and applauded when he came off, who suffered against the Egyptians, who bothered them especially during the first hour of play.
Olise, scorer and passer
Tense with the stakes, jostled in the duels, it was necessary to wait until the end of the first period for the Bleuets to really show themselves to be dangerous, with the post found by the central defender Loïc Badé (40th).
Without the suspended Manu Koné and Enzo Millot, but with the same central hinge Badé-Lukeba, they conceded their first goal of the tournament on a powerful strike from Mahmoud Saber (1-0, 62nd).
It was at this point that the Tricolores broke free, pushed by the 50,000 spectators in Lyon. In ten minutes, they had a series of dangerous opportunities: first a header from Mateta (64th), another from Akliouche (65th) before Lacazette also stumbled on the goalkeeper (66th, 67th). In the process, he hit the post (75th), before Loïc Badé hit the bar again. Just before the opening goal, the “General” had missed an opportunity that he rarely misses in his stadium (60th).
France, best attack and best defense of the Olympics
In a match completely dominated by the French, Jean-Philippe Mateta equalized on a beautiful inspiration from Michael Olise, who served him with perfect timing (1-1, 83rd).
Before the rush of the hour mark, Thierry Henry’s players had given the impression of not having fully taken the measure of Egypt, who had beaten Spain, the finalist, in the group stage (2-1).
Unperturbed by a potential penalty at the end of added time not validated by VAR (90+5), the Blues played extra time like the last half hour, totally dominating the game. Cornered in front of their goal, the Egyptians gave in again on a corner taken by Michael Olise, deflected by Sildillia onto Mateta’s head, scoring his fourth goal of the tournament (2-1, 99th).
Technically adept, Bayern Munich’s new player Michael Olise made his mark again by scoring the third goal with a clear low shot (3-1, 108th), after having been at the origin of the first two.
With its 13 goals, the French team is the best attack of the Olympics – ahead of Morocco (11) eliminated in the semi-finals by Spain – and still the best defense with only one conceded. Gold is very close.