MARSEILLE, France – For an hour, the U.S. men’s U-23 team hung with host country France and the crowd out in full force.
Then Alexandre Lacazette happened.
The veteran forward beat U.S. goalkeeper Patrick Schulte to the low far post from long range for the match’s first goal in the 61st minute. He assisted on an insurance goal from Michael Olise – a similar score from outside the box, and Schulte could not reach the far post in time.
France walked away with a 3-0 victory in a packed Marseille Stadium, adding a late header from Loic Bade.
Paxten Aaronson led the U.S. with two shots on goal. France outshot the U.S. 11-9, and the discrepancy in shots on goal was similar (6-4). France did take six corners – five in the first half – to the Americans’ two.
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It was a physical match, with the U.S. typically on the friendly side of referee Yael Falcon’s whistle.
The top two teams from each group will advance so the Americans still have a shot to advance. The Americans will play New Zealand on Saturday in Marseille.
– Chris Bumbaca
The 2024 Paris Olympics soft launched on-field action Wednesday, with eight men’s soccer matches and 12 men’s rugby sevens matches.
Elsewhere, the U.S. men's gymnastics team had podium training, and the U.S. men's basketball team practiced ahead of their first game Sunday.
Here's how Wednesday happened in France:
MARSEILLE, France — For good measure, Loic Bade hammered home a header to give the French another goal that will help the team if tiebreaking comes into play. But the result was already in hand by that point.
MARSEILLE, France — France is pulling away.
Michael Olise beat U.S. goalkeeper Patrick Schulte to the right for France’s second goal in eight minutes, and the U.S. is staring down defeat as a result.
The U.S. hasn’t been without its opportunities in the second half and could have netted a score or two itself. But France’s finishing has put them in a comfortable lead with 20 minutes to play.
MARSEILLE, France — The most experienced man on the pitch scored the match’s first goal.
France forward Alexander Lacazette beat USA goalkeeper Patrick Schulte to the far corner in the 61st minute. Michael Olise was credited with the assist.
The U.S. nearly equalized on two separate occasions in short order, the second of which was a golden opportunity for the Americans. John Tolkin streaked in to receive a cross, but French keeper Guillaume Restes caused enough disturbance to deter the threat. Paxten Aaronson’s header minutes before that was also turned away.
MARSEILLE, France — The U.S. is playing with more urgency – despite spending plenty of time on the ground after French contact – and nearly broke through in the 59th minute.
Djordje Mihailovic’s strike drilled the crossbar square and ricocheted over the net for a goal kick. It was the closest the Americans have come to scoring by far in the match.
Earlier in the half, Nathan Harriel had an early header on target.
– Chris Bumbaca
MARSEILLE, France — Jean-Philippe Mateta nearly supplied France with its first goal of the match on two separate occasions in the closing minutes of the first half, which the French dominated and forced the Americans on their heels.
Mateta first had a chance to connect on a long ball into the box, but wasn’t able to put enough behind the attempt and U.S. goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made the save.
Schulte had to make another save on a ball from Manu Kone that appeared to be a cross but was bound for the back of the net had he not dived to his left and pushed the threat away.
Mateta again fired off a low shot from the top of the box that went just wide of the ride post.
France outshot the U.S. 8-3 (3-1 on target) and had five corners compared to one for the U.S. The French had 61% possession.
Paxten Aaronson has been the most active American in the attack, but there hasn’t been much to report for the U.S. on that end outside of a few chances.
– Chris Bumbaca
MARSEILLE, France — It took more than 30 minutes, but there was a shot on goal.
France’s Manu Kone let one rip from beyond the box and wasn’t that much of threat, however. USA keeper Patrick Schulte dove to his right and easily secured the ball.
A few minutes later, Kevin Paredes picked up the first yellow card for the Americans.
Paxten Aaronson then finally delivered the first shot on net for the USA, which French keeper Guillaume Restes deflected back into play.
– Chris Bumbaca
MARSEILLE, France — American defender John Tolkin writhed in pain and France’s Kiliann Sildillia drew a yellow card. France has had more pressure but the Americans have defended well enough in the first half hour.
U.S. goalkeeper Patrick Shulte did well to be aggressive on France’s first corner and claim the ball. The French midfield has been aggressive in trying to keep the U.S. pinned in its own third but have been called for a few fouls to help the U.S. alleviate the pressure.
– Chris Bumbaca
MARSEILLE, France — For the first time in 16 years, the U.S. men’s U-23 national team is back in the Olympics.
The best finish for the U.S. men was a fourth-place showing at the Sydney Games in 2000.
By winning the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship in Honduras, the team clinched its spot in the 2024 Olympics.
Since 1992 in Barcelona, the men’s soccer Olympic tournament has been played with players age 23 or younger. Each squad is allowed to carry three overage players if they choose.
The lone senior national team member with previous World Cup experience is defender Walker Zimmerman. Defender Miles Robinson and midfielder Djordje Mihailovic are the other overage players.
– Chris Bumbaca
MARSEILLE, France – Although fans may not recognize most of France’s roster, even casuals know its manager: Thierry Henry.
After his playing career ended, Henry began his coaching journey with Arsenal’s youth academy in 2015. He had been an assistant for Belgium’s national squad during its run to the World Cup semifinal in 2018.
Henry’s other managerial roles have included Ligue 1’s Monaco and CF Montréal of Major League Soccer.
As a player, Henry helped France win the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship. He ranks as the second all-time leading scorer (51) for “Les Bleus.”
– Chris Bumbaca
MARSEILLE, France – Fans of the host country were out in full force hours before kickoff, wearing blue and waving French flags.
With no fans at the Tokyo Summer Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Games due to COVID-19, the eruptions from the France-heavy crowd will be a reminder of the Olympics’ draw.
– Chris Bumbaca
Our 2024 Paris Olympics medal count tracker updates after every single medal event. The first medals can be won on Saturday.
NBC is airing and streaming the Paris Olympics from all angles: Peacock is streaming every sport and event live as it unfolds; NBC, USA Network, CNBC and E! are carrying various live events and replays throughout the day. The Games can also be streamed on Fubo. Here are 6 tips and tricks for getting the most out of Peacock during the Olympics.
A fan invasion in the opening match of the Olympic men's soccer tournament between Argentina and Morocco on Wednesday caused chaos, with Argentina eventually beaten 2-1 following a VAR review after play was suspended with the score tied at 2-2.
Argentina's Cristian Medina scored deep in injury time to salvage what looked like a 2-2 draw, but the decision ruling out the goal was delivered about two hours after play was suspended when the teams re-emerged to finish the match in an empty stadium.
The teams played for three minutes and 15 seconds after VAR completed its review and disallowed the goal.
After order was restored in Saint-Etienne and the teams had left the field following the fan invasion, they discovered that the match had not been completed but suspended by officials. The venue manager told Reuters the game had been interrupted, adding that a decision about whether the match would be completed was being discussed.
The teams re-emerged just before 7:00 p.m. local time and warmed up a second time so the final minutes could be played.
– Reuters
Halfway through Wednesday's slate of eight men's games, Iraq vs. Ukraine and Japan (in Lyon) vs. Paraguay (Bordeaux) have kicked off.
Ben Waine's goal in the 76th minute was the winner for New Zealand in a 2-1 victory over Guinea to open men's Group A play. Guinea had equalized minutes earlier with Amadou Diawara's goal, but Waine – who plays for Plymouth Argyle in England – restored New Zealand's advantage to earn three points.
Egypt and the Dominican Republic men’s soccer teams played out a scoreless draw in their opening group match on Wednesday. With each team picking up a point, the two countries are behind Group C leader Spain, who beat Uzbekistan earlier in the day.
Ireland outlasted South Africa, 10-5, in a Pool A matchup. Ireland led 5-0 after the first half and had a 10-0 lead late before allowing its first points with just about a minute left to play.
New Zealand is taking on Japan in the next game.
New Zealand has taken an early lead on Guinea (1-0) in their Group A game, while Egypt and the Dominican Republic are squaring off in a Group C matchup.
There are eight soccer matches and 12 rugby sevens matches. The U.S. men’s national soccer team plays host France at 3 p.m. ET. The U.S. men’s rugby sevens team has two matches: against France (10:30 a.m.) and against Fiji (2:30 p.m.).
Trailing France 12-7 five minutes into the second half, Team USA got a score by Marcus Tupuola to tie things up. The U.S. had a chance to break the 12-12 tie, but Madison Hughes' conversion failed.
Team USA plays Fuji later at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Waisea Nacuqu and Joji Nasova combined for more than half of Fiji's points in a 40-12 rout of Uruguay.
Fiji led 19-7 after the first half, and then outscored Uruguay 21-5 in the second half to win the Pool C opener.
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Spain made Sergio Gomez's tiebreaking goal hold up and comes away with the 2-1 win in its opener.
Uzbekistan nearly got the equalizer from Khusniddin Alikulov, who fired a kick just over the crossbar in the 81st minute.
The United States will top the Paris Olympics medal table and host France will almost double its haul from 2021, according to a projection from data and analytics company Nielsen.
Nielsen said that based on its Gracenote results data from key global and continental competitions since Tokyo three years ago Team USA would be top of its virtual medal table for eighth consecutive summer Games.
It said the US would win 112 medals, one less than in 2021, and that 37 golds would also be the top mark, with almost half the haul from athletics and swimming.
China is to follow again with 86 medals, down three, with 34 of them gold in Paris. — Reuters
Argentina is on the board after Giuliano Simeone scored on an assist by Julio Soler. Argentina's first goal came in the 68th minute and is one of only two shots on goal so far.
Team USA holds a 7-5 lead after one half in its men's rugby sevens matchup against France. Lucas Lacamp scored just before the end of the half with Steve Tomasin following with a conversion.
France scored 3:07 into the first half, but missed on the conversion.
Argentina won the second men's rugby sevens matchup, overcoming an early 7-0 deficit with an explosive second half that resulted in a 31-12 victory.
The United States gets to cheer on its first team at the Paris Games, as the men's rugby sevens squad takes on host country France next.
Sergio Gomez scored on an assist by Juan Miranda to snap a tie and give Spain a 2-1 lead in the 62nd minute. It was Gomez's third shot on goal.
Morocco scored another goal on another Soufiane Rahimi penalty kick against Argentina. The goal came in the 49th minute and gave Morocco a 2-0 lead. Argentina has yet to get a shot on goal.
After falling behind 7-0, Australia scored 21 unanswered points and held on for a 21-14 victory against Samoa in a men's Pool B matchup.
Argentina vs. Kenya are next up, while the United States will take on France at 10:30 a.m. ET. There are 12 total men's rugby sevens matchups lined up for today.
Just before the end of the first half, Morocco got on the board against Argentina. Soufiane Rahimi scored in the 45th minute. It was the first shot on goal by either team.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has evened the score against Spain after a penalty kick by Eldor Shomurodov in the 45th minute. The teams go into halftime tied up at 1-1.
Australia and Samoa are getting ready to start the second half of their men's rugby sevens matchup, the first of the Paris Games. The two teams are locked up in a 7-7 tie after Australia dug out of a 7-0 hole.
Argentina and Morocco are battling it out in their Group B opener. The two squads are relying on defense to keep their opponent away from the net, as neither team has a shot on goal after 39 minutes.
Spain struck first during its Group C opener against Uzbekistan. Marc Pubill scored off a feed from Abell Ruiz in the 29th minute. It's the first goal of these Olympics and gets Spain on the board with a 1-0 lead.
No. The global star from Argentina is sitting out the Paris Games after just completing Copa America, during which Argentina beat Colombia in extra time and Messi was injured. Messi won a gold medal with Argentina at the 2008 Beijing Games.
The Argentina-Morocco and Uzbekistan-Spain men's soccer games have started, and so have these 2024 Paris Olympics.
The U.S. men’s national soccer team plays France at 3 p.m. ET.
NBC will air the match live, along with Peacock.
Though some of the best USMNT players are still age-eligible for the Olympics, it's hard to get clubs to let their stars go to a tournament where they might get hurt and almost certainly would miss some of the preseason.
But the Olympics could provide some invaluable experience for some of the USMNT's stars-in-the-making. Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann, who led Venezia to promotion to Serie A in Italy, are on the roster. So is Kevin Paredes, U.S. Soccer's Young Male Player of the Year last year, and goalkeeper-of-the-future, Gaga Slonina. — Nancy Armour
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