In a thrilling semifinal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, France staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Egypt 3-1 in extra time, securing their spot in the men’s football final. The match, played in Lyon on Monday, saw Egypt take the lead through Mahmoud Saber’s powerful shot in the 62nd minute. However, France’s Jean-Philippe Mateta equalized in the 83rd minute, forcing the game into extra time.The extra period proved decisive for France. Egypt’s Omar Fayed received a second yellow card in the 92nd minute, reducing his team to 10 men. Capitalizing on this advantage, Mateta scored his second goal with a header in the 99th minute, giving France the lead. Michael Olise then sealed the victory with a third goal in the 108th minute.France’s coach, Thierry Henry, praised his team’s resilience, calling the evening ‘magical’ and ‘enthusiastic’. The victory puts France in position to win their second Olympic gold medal in men’s football, with their only previous triumph coming at Los Angeles 1984.The final between France and Spain will take place on Friday, August 9th, at 18:00 hours at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. This matchup ensures that a European team will win the Olympic gold for the first time in 32 years, ending the recent dominance of Latin American nations in the tournament.Meanwhile, Egypt will face Morocco in the bronze medal match on Thursday, August 8th, at the La Beaujoire stadium in Nantes. This match, scheduled for 18:00 Cairo time, presents an opportunity for both teams to secure their first Olympic medal in men’s football, adding further excitement to the tournament’s conclusion.
Key points
- France defeated Egypt 3-1 in extra time to reach the Olympic football final.
- Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice and Michael Olise once for France, while Mahmoud Saber scored for Egypt.
- France will face Spain in the final on Friday, August 9th, at the Parc des Princes.
- Egypt will play Morocco for the bronze medal on Thursday in Nantes.
Contradictions👾There is a minor discrepancy in the reported time of Michael Olise’s goal, with some sources stating the 108th minute and others the 110th minute.
