Marseille, France (July 24, 2024) – The U.S. Olympic men's soccer team couldn't have been more challenged in its long-awaited return to competition, and on Wednesday in Marseille, the U.S. team played an hour-long match against favorites France in their Group A opener. Les BleusBuoyed by veteran captain Alexandre Lacazette, France eventually broke through to win 3-0 in front of 48,721 fans at the Stade Velodrome.
The 2024 Olympic men's soccer competition kicks off two days before the opening ceremony in Paris, with the United States competing for the first time since 2008. It's the first time in 5,824 days that the U.S. men have been on the Olympic stage, and on Wednesday, they didn't feel intimidated at all, despite the stage and the reputation of their opponent.
The Americans defended well and twice came close to taking the lead, but Lacazette, the oldest player on the pitch at 33 (men's Olympic teams can field up to three players over the age of 23), broke the tie just after the hour mark, then he fed compatriot Michael O'Leary with a pass less than 10 minutes later to set up France for the decisive second goal.
A quiet start to Wednesday's match served the Americans well. As France trailed and probed, the Americans held firm and the noise inside the Velodrome quieted. Les Bleus They dominated possession in the first half but posed little threat and didn't force a save from U.S. goalkeeper Patrick Schulte until the 35th minute.
Two of the three U.S. overage players, center backs Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman, played very solid minutes. France had five corners and 13 total crosses in the first half, but few of them led to goals. Meanwhile, U.S. midfielders Tanner Tessman and Gianluca Busio, teammates at recently promoted Venezia, did a great job slowing down the opposition's attacks and limiting the influence of French playmaker Olise.
U.S. winger Pakste Aaronson had the best chance of the first half in the 38th minute, when he broke free inside the France penalty area after evading defender Kilian Sirdilia and fired a low shot toward the left corner of the goal that goalkeeper Guillaume Lestes had to clear.
The visitors came close to breaking the deadlock again in the 59th minute, but midfielder Djordje Mihajlovic's long-range shot, the team's third over-age player, rebounded off the France crossbar. The match finally started to pick up steam, and a veteran of the game put the favorites into the lead in the 61st minute. Lacazette, 33, a long-time forward for Arsenal and Olympique Lyonnais, found a little space in midfield and fired a shot past Schulte and onto the left post from about 25 yards.
The U.S. rallied back with the most sustained attack of the game and nearly tied the game just a few minutes later, but Aaronson's header from Kevin Paredes' cross in the 63rd minute was well saved by Lestes, and just seconds later, U.S. left back John Tolkin headed a Paredes cross into the left post.
France then sealed the win in the 69th minute when Olies, a London-born attacker who recently moved from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich, curled a perfect shot from just outside the American penalty box to score. Sevilla centre-back Loic Badet headed in a corner kick in the 85th minute to give France another 3-0 victory.
U.S. substitute Griffin Yeo, who scored a late goal in a friendly between the two teams in March, found the net again on Wednesday, but his stoppage-time goal was called for offside.
Sixteen countries will compete in the Olympic Games in four groups. The top two from each group will advance to the quarterfinals in a round-robin format. New Zealand beat Guinea 2-1 in the other Group A match on Wednesday.
The U.S. is scheduled to return to Marseille for a crucial match against New Zealand on Saturday, July 27 (1 p.m. ET, USA Network, Telemundo, Peacock).
Goal Scoring
FRA — Alexandre Lacazette (Michael Oliseh), 61 min: The France captain dropped back to midfield to receive a pass from Oliseh, held off U.S. midfielder Gianluca Busio and fired a low, powerful 25-yard shot across the face of the goal and into the left-hand net. France 1, America 0
FRA — Michael Oliseh (Alexandre Lacazette), 69th minute: Lacazette returned the favor in the 69th minute, finding Oliseh on the right edge of the U.S. penalty area, who got inside past Paxton Aaronson and curled a shot past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and inside the left post. France 2, USA 0
FRA — Loic Badet (Joris Chotard), 85th minute: Centre back Bade kept American Miles Robinson at arm's length and smashed a corner kick into the top left corner with a header that Chotard couldn't stop. France 3, USA 0 Final
Other notes
- The U.S. national team has a record of 0 wins, 1 loss and 0 draws against France in the Olympics.
- All 16 athletes were making their Olympic debut.
- The Olympic men's soccer competition is open only to players 23 and under, with up to three over-age players allowed. All three of the U.S. over-age players started tonight: Djordje Mihajlovic (25), Myles Robinson (27) and Walker Zimmerman (31).
- Tanner Tessman served as a team captain tonight, marking his fifth time as captain in the eight games played this season. He has captained the Olympic Men's Soccer Team in every game since the match against Iraq on November 18th.
- All players on the starting XI have played in Major League Soccer or developed in the MLS Academy. In addition to their current MLS clubs, members of the team also played for the following MLS or MLS Next teams: Aaronson (Philadelphia Union), Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City), Nathan Harriel (Chargers SC), Djordje Mihajlovic (Chicago Fire FC, CF Montreal), Kevin Paredes (DC United, Bethesda SC), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC, FC Greater Boston Bolts), Tanner Tessman (FC Dallas), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas, LAFC).
- Defenders Myles Robinson and Walker Zimmermann were paired together at centre-back for the first time since March 31, 2022, in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica.
- Starting midfielders Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann play together at Venezia in Italy, leading the club to promotion to Serie A during the 2023-24 season. The duo have started five of Olympique's eight games together this season.
- Since the U-23 rules were introduced in 1992, the U.S. has four wins, four losses and five draws in the group stage.
– US Men's Olympic Soccer Team Match Report –
Match: United States Men's Olympic Soccer Team vs. France
date: July 24, 2024
competition: 2024 Olympic Men's Football Tournament – Group A
venue: Stade de Marseille. Marseille, France
Attendance: 48,721
kick off: 3:00 PM ET (9:00 PM local time)
weather: 85 degrees, sunny
Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | debt |
united states of america | 0 | 0 | 0 |
France | 0 | 3 | 3 |
FRA – Alexandre Lacazette (Michael Oliseh) | 61 min |
FRA – Michael Olise | 69 |
FRA – Loïc Badet (Joris Chotard) | 85 |
lineup:
united states of america: 1-Patrick Schulte, 2-Nathan Harriel, 3-Walker Zimmerman, 12-Myles Robinson, 5-John Tolkin, 6-Gianluca Busio (4-Maximilian Dietz, 71'), 8-Tanner Tessman (captain), 14-Dorje Mihajlovic (16-Jack McGlynn, 76'), 11-Paxtan Aaronson (9-Griffin Yeo, 76'), 9-Duncan Maguire (17-Caleb Wiley, 86'), 7-Kevin Paredes (10-Taylor Booth, 76')
Substitutes: 18-Gaga Slonina, 15-Benjamin Klemaschi
Head Coach: Marko Mitrovic
France: 16-Guillaume Lest; 5-Kilian Sirdilia, 4-Loic Badet, 2-Castello Lucba, 3-Adrian Trafato. 12-Enzo Mireau (8-Magnès Akriouch, 71'), 6-Manue Kone (17-Sungout Magassa, 87'), 7-Michael Oliseh (11-Désiré Doué, 82'), 13-Joris Chotard. 14-Jean-Philippe Mateta (9-Arnaud Kalimuendo, 71'), 10-Alexandre Lacazette.
Substitutes: 1-Obed Nkambadio, 15-Bradley Loco, 18-Rajan Cherki
Director: Thierry Henry
Statistical Overview: United States / France
Shots: 9 / 10
Shots on goal: 3 / 4
Saved: 1 / 3
Corner kicks: 2 / 8
Fouls: 10 / 18
Offside: 4 / 1
Summary of fraudulent activity:
FRA – Kilian Sildiria (Caution) 17 min
USA – Kevin Paredes (Booked) 37
board member:
Judge: Yael Falcon (ARG)
Assistant: Maximiliano Del Jesso (ARG)
Assistant 2: Facundo Rodriguez (ARG)
4th Officer: Anahi Fernandez (URU)