France and Argentina meet in Bordeaux for the men’s Olympic soccer quarterfinals on Friday with a semifinal against either Egypt or Paraguay at stake. This is a rerun of the FIFA 2022 World Cup final from Qatar which Lionel Messi’s Albiceleste won but the Inter Miami man will not be in Bordeaux himself to influence this heavyweight clash between two of the pre-tournament favorites.
The French are into the Olympic quarterfinals for the first time since 1996 in Atlanta with Les Bleus waiting 40 years since their last knockout phase win at a Games. That coincided with a gold medal win and Thierry Henry’s men will hope for the same here despite an unwanted record of five losses from six last eight matchups for the men. On an overall unbeaten run since a 4-0 loss to Japan at the 2020 Tokyo Games, France are now nine unbeaten.
The Argentines are into the knockout phase for the first time since their last gold medal win back in 2008. The South Americans failed to make it past the group stage in 2016 and 2020 but they have only lost one of their last five quarterfinals. That was against Brazil in 1988 and although this was a World Cup final 18 months ago, it is a first-ever Olympic meeting for these two giants of world soccer.
Here are our storylines, how you can watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Friday, August 2 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Matmut Atlantique — Bordeaux, France
- TV Universo | Stream: Fubo (try for free)
- Odds: France +100; Draw +225; Argentina +240
How they got here
Les Bleus are living up to expectations so far with three wins from three in Group A to finish ahead of the USMNT. Only the French and Japan won all three of their games and both also kept three clean sheets with seven goals scored. Thierry Henry’s side were run close by Guinea but have scored at least three goals in two of their games so far. Meanwhile, Argentina overcame a controversial start to their Paris Games with that defeat to Morocco followed by wins over Iraq and then Ukraine. Thiago Almada is living up to pre-tournament hype with goals in both of those victories. It was only the head-to-head record that saw Javier Mascherano’s side finish second to the Atlas Lions in Group B.
Team news
France: Henry started Desire Doue and Arnaud Kalimuendo last time but both should make way for Alexandre Lacazette and Michael Olise to return alongside Jean-Philippe Mateta in attack. Loic Bade, Adrien Truffert and Guillaume Restes should be restored after Obed Nkambadio came in between the sticks but Enzo Millot is a doubt.
Possible France XI: Restes; Sildillia, Bade, Lukeba, Truffert; Akliouche, Kone, Chotard; Olise; Lacazette, Mateta.
Argentina: Mascherano saw Lucas Beltran come on for Julian Alvarez earlier this week but both should partner each other up top now. Giuliano Simeone and Almada should continue out wide although Claudio Echeverri looked good when given the chance and could earn a surprise start.
Possible Argentina XI: Rulli; Lujan, Otamendi, Di Cesare, Soler; Simeone, Fernandez, Medina, Almada; Beltran, Alvarez.
Prediction
Something of a final before the final, this game was not expected to happen this early. However, home support means that France should just about see off Argentina to reach the final four. Pick: France 2, Argentina 1.
