Argentina vs France: World Cup Final Rematch in Paris Olympics 2024 Quarter-Finals

France and Argentina will renew their rivalry in the men’s Olympic football tournament when they meet in the quarter-finals in Bordeaux on Friday. This high-stakes match promises to inject excitement into a tournament often overshadowed by other football events. The clash is particularly notable as it is the first encounter between the teams since their dramatic 2022 World Cup final, which Argentina won on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

The match also follows recent tensions between the nations. Argentina’s players were recorded singing racist chants about their French counterparts after winning the Copa America in July, leading to FIFA’s investigation and a diplomatic incident. Despite the controversy, the game is set to draw significant attention.

Although the Olympic tournament features under-23 teams with the option of including up to three over-age players, only Nicolas Otamendi and Julian Alvarez from Argentina’s squad played in the 2022 World Cup final. As a result, the match may lack some of the intensity associated with their previous encounters but remains a crucial contest.

Argentina, seeking their third Olympic gold after victories in 2004 and 2008, will be led by Julian Alvarez, while France, aiming for their first gold since 1984, will be captained by Alexandre Lacazette and feature new Bayern Munich signing Michael Olise.

Legendary coaches Thierry Henry for France and Javier Mascherano for Argentina, both former Barcelona stars, will be guiding their teams. The winner of this quarter-final will advance to the semi-finals in Lyon, where they will face either Egypt or Paraguay.

In addition to this fixture, other quarter-finals on Friday include Morocco vs. the United States in Paris and Spain vs. Japan in Lyon. Spain, fresh off their Euro 2024 victory, are also in contention for Olympic gold, while Japan, the only team besides France to win all their group matches, are also strong contenders.