PARIS: Hosts France and Argentina will extend their recent rivalry in men’s football as they meet for the first time at an Olympic tournament for a place in the semi-finals in a high-profile clash in Bordeaux on Friday.

Despite being an under-23 contest, both teams are eager to knock out their rivals in a repeat of the most recent World Cup final in Qatar, where Lionel Messi’s Argentina claimed the world title by edging Kylian Mbappe’s France on penalties.

They previously played three times in World Cups, with Argentina’s first-round victories in 1930 and 1978, before France came on top in the last 16 in 2018 to thwart Argentina’s bid to ending a long title drought.

The bitterness between the two nations increased earlier this month after a video posted by Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez following their Copa America title that featured a song sung by some members of the squad about France’s players of African descent.

The French Football Federation called the video “racist and discriminatory”, before Argentina’s men’s football and rugby teams were booed on the first day of Olympic action in St Etienne and at the Stade de France.

Argentina got their Olympic campaign off on the wrong foot when they lost 2-1 to Morocco in a chaotic match that was suspended for more than an hour.

The 2004 and 2008 gold medallists then bounced back beating Iraq 3-1 before a 2-0 win over Ukraine to advance to the knockout round as Group ‘B’ runners-up.

France, chasing their second title after their gold in 1984, had a smoother road with a perfect first round after outclassing the United States 3-0 in their opener, before a 1-0 win over Guinea and 3-0 victory against New Zealand to clinch top spot in Group ‘A’.

“A new tournament now begins,” coach Thierry Henry said. “We haven’t conceded a single goal at the tournament. You could concede one in the quarter-final, then you’re out. We need to stay composed and focused.”

Whoever prevails will advance to a semi-final in Lyon next Monday against either Egypt or 2004 silver medallists Paraguay, who meet in the last eight in Marseille.

All the quarter-finals go ahead on Friday, with Morocco up against the United States in Paris before Spain take on Japan in Lyon.

Spain are gunning for more glory a matter of weeks after winning Euro 2024 as they target a second Olympic men’s football gold after 1992.

Japan have come to this Olympics with a young squad but were the only team other than France to win all three group games.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2024