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EFE
France, commanded by Thierry Henry, made its debut with a victory (3-0) in the men’s football competition of the Olympic Games of which it is the host thanks to the goals of Alexandre Lacazette, Michael Olise and Loïc Badé in the 61st, 71st and 85th minutes respectively, which unblocked the French against the United States in the second half.
A North American team that came out to the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille, packed to see the French, with a clear plan and personality. 4-5-1, waiting for their moment and blocking France’s circulation with mastery.
The crossbar prevents the United States from advancing
In fact, in the first half the French did not know how to threaten the American goal, apart from a couple of harmless long-range shots, and it was the latter, already in the second half, who had the first great opportunity to score.
A shot to the crossbar Djordje Mihailovic in the 56th minute, with the goalkeeper Guillaume Restes already overcome, he gave a scare to a France that reacted quickly thanks to individual quality.
Lacazette and Olise score from distance
Far from putting together a long or dangerous play, the captain, Alexandre Lacazette, He took a left-footed shot from the edge of the area in the 61st minute to catch an American goalkeeper off guard, Patrick Schulte, who reacted late and was unable to clear the ball.
A goal that filled the United States with rage and led them to a more offensive approach, but again the post and a great save by Remains They maintained the 1-0 of a match that Olisealready in the 71st minute, was in charge of sentencing the game.
Bayern Munich’s recent star signing from Crystal Palace repeated the formula of Lacazette and with a left-footed shot from the front, which grazed the back of the central defender Tolkien, made it 2-0 which was already a burden for the Americans.
Sevilla player Badé scores from a corner
A North American team that, despite the good image given in the first hour of the match, left Marseille with a thrashing, since in the 85th minute, Loïc Badé, Sevilla FC centre-back easily finished off a corner kick from Joris Chotard to make the final score 3-0.
France
30
USA
France: Restes; Sildillia, Bade, Lukeba, Truffert; Kone (Magassa, m.86), Chotard; Millot (Akliouche, m.70), Olise (Doue, m.82), Lacazette and Mateta (Kalimuendo, m.70).
United States: Schulte; Harriet, Robinson, Zimmerman, Tolkien; Buzios (Dietz, d.71), Tessmann; Aaronson (Yow, m.76), Mihailovic (McGlynn, m.76), Paredes (Booth, m.76); McGuire (Wiley, m.86).
Referee: Yael Falcón Pérez (Argentina). He cautioned Sildillia (m.17) in France and Paredes (m.37) for the United States.
Incidents: Group A match of the Paris Olympic Games played at the Vélodrome stadium (Marseille) in front of 67,394 spectators.
See match sheet
