Argentina secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics men’s football tournament with a 2-0 victory over Ukraine on July 30 in Lyon. Thiago Almada opened the scoring in the 47th minute with a well-placed shot from outside the box, followed by Claudio Echeverri’s goal in stoppage time.Despite the win, Argentina finished second in Group B with six points, behind Morocco due to goal difference. Morocco topped the group after defeating Iraq 3-0 in their final match. Argentina will now face France, the likely Group A winner, in the quarterfinals on Friday, August 2, at 16:00 (Argentine time) in Bordeaux.Argentina’s coach, Javier Mascherano, acknowledged that the team ‘won without shining, but avoided a potential embarrassment in the first phase’. The victory marks Argentina’s return to the Olympic quarterfinals for the first time since 2008, as they aim to add to their gold medals from Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.For Ukraine, the loss marks the end of their Olympic journey. The team, led by coach Ruslan Rotany, needed a win to advance but couldn’t capitalize on their chances. Ukraine finished third in the group with three points, having previously defeated Morocco but lost to Iraq in their opening match.The upcoming quarterfinal match between Argentina and France is highly anticipated, as both teams have shown strong performances in the tournament so far. As Claudio Echeverri, a standout player for Manchester City, remarked, ‘It was a great day,’ reflecting the team’s satisfaction with their progress in the competition.
Key points
- Argentina defeated Ukraine 2-0 to advance to the Olympic quarterfinals.
- Argentina will face France in the quarterfinals on August 2 in Bordeaux.
- Ukraine has been eliminated from the Olympic football tournament.
Contradictions👾Some sources reported the score as 3-0, while most reported 2-0.
The 2-0 score is more consistently reported and likely correct.
