U.S. Olympic Men’s Soccer Team falls to France 3-0 in first group match at Paris 2024

MARSEILLE, France – The U.S. Olympic Men’s Soccer Team couldn’t have been handed a tougher assignment in the program’s long-awaited return to the tournament. And for an hour on Wednesday in Marseille, the Americans went toe-to-toe with the fancied French in their Group A opener. But Les Bleus, inspired by veteran captain Alexandre Lacazette, eventually broke through and won 3-0 before a sellout crowd of 67,000 at the Stade Vélodrome.

The 2024 Olympic Men’s Soccer Tournament kicked off two days before the Opening Ceremonies in Paris and features the USA for the first time since 2008. It had been 5,824 days since the American men graced the Olympic stage. And they were far from overawed on Wednesday, despite the setting and the opponent’s reputation.

The U.S. defended well and came close to taking the lead on two occasions. But Lacazette, who at 33 was the oldest player on the pitch (men’s Olympic teams can field three players older than 23), broke the tie just after the hour mark. He then fed compatriot Michael Olise for France’s pivotal second within 10 minutes.

The quiet start to Wednesday’s affair suited the U.S. As France passed and probed, the Americans held firm and the din inside the Vélodrome died down. Although Les Bleus had most of the ball in the opening half, they rarely threatened and didn’t force a save from U.S. goalkeeper Patrick Schulte until the 35th minute.

Center backs Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman, two of the USA’s three overage players, were rock solid. France’s five first-half corner kicks and 13 total crosses produced little. Meanwhile, U.S. midfielders Tanner Tessman and Gianluca Busio—teammates at newly-promoted Serie A side Venezia—did well to help slow down the opposition attack and limit the influence of Olise, the French playmaker.

U.S. winger Paxten Aaronson created what wound up being the best chance of the half. He freed himself inside the French penalty area with a 38th-minute touch past defender Kiliann Sildillia and then hit a low shot toward the left post that goalkeeper Guillaume Restes had to kick away.

The visitors again came within inches of breaking the deadlock in the 59th, but a long-range bid from midfielder Djordje Mihailovic, the squad’s third overage player, crashed off the French crossbar. The match finally started to come to life and in the 61st minute, the game’s elder statesman lifted the favorites into the lead. Lacazette, the 33-year-old, long-time Arsenal and Olympique Lyon forward, found a sliver of space in midfield and beat Schulte to the left post from about 25 yards.

The Americans didn’t fold and responded with their best sustained attacking spell of the game, nearly drawing level just a couple minutes later. But Aaronson’s 63rd-minute header off a cross from Kevin Paredes was well saved by Restes, and U.S. left back John Tolkin struck the left post with his own header (off another Paredes cross), just seconds later.

France then put the game away in the 69th. Olise, the London-born attacker who recently joined Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace, did the damage with a perfectly-placed, curling shot from just outside the U.S. penalty area. Center back Loïc Badé, who plays his club ball for Sevilla, added a French exclamation point with his header off a corner kick to make it 3-0 in the 85th minute.

U.S. substitute Griffin Yow, who scored a late goal in the March friendly between the teams, found the net again on Wednesday, but his stoppage time marker was whistled for offside.

The Olympic tournament includes 16 nations playing in four groups of four. The top two finishers in each quartet following a round-robin will move on to the quarterfinals. New Zealand defeated Guinea 2-1 in the other Group A match on Wednesday.

The USA will return to Marseille for a crucial meeting with New Zealand on Saturday, July 27 (1 p.m. ET, USA Network, Telemundo, Peacock).

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

FRA — Alexandre Lacazette (Michael Olise), 61st minute: The French captain retreated into midfield to receive a feed from Olise, held off U.S. midfielder Gianluca Busio and lashed a low, hard, 25-yard shot across the face of goal and into the left-side netting. FRA 1, USA 0

FRA — Michael Olise (Alexandre Lacazette), 69th minute: Lacazette returned the favor in the 69th, finding Olise on the right edge of the U.S. penalty area. Olise beat Paxten Aaronson to the inside and bent a shot past diving goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and inside the left post. FRA 2, USA 0

FRA — Loïc Badé (Joris Chotard), 85th minute: Badé, a center back, created separation from his U.S. counterpart, Miles Robinson, as Chotard took a corner kick and powered an unstoppable header into the upper-left corner. FRA 3, USA 0 FINAL

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• The USMNT is now 0-1-0 against France all-time at the Olympics.
• All 16 players made their Olympic debut.
• The Olympic Men’s Soccer Tournament is restricted to players under the age of 23, with an allowance for three overage players. All three U.S. overage players started tonight: Djordje Mihailovic (25 years old), Miles Robinson (27) and Walker Zimmerman (31).
• Tanner Tessmann captained the squad tonight, his fifth time wearing the armband over this cycle’s eight games. He’s served as captain in every match for the Olympic Men’s Soccer Team since Nov. 18 vs. Iraq.
• All players in the Starting XI have played in Major League Soccer or developed in a MLS academy. In addition to current MLS clubs, members of the squad also spent time with the following MLS or MLS Next outfits: Aaronson (Philadelphia Union), Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City), Nathan Harriel (Chargers SC), Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire FC, CF Montreal), Kevin Paredes (D.C. United, Bethesda SC), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC, FC Greater Boston Bolts), Tanner Tessmann (FC Dallas) and Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas, LAFC).
• Defenders Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman paired together in central defense for the first time since March 31, 2022 at Costa Rica in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiyng.
• Starting midfielders Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann play together in Italy for Venezia, leading the club to promotion to Serie A during the 2023-24 season. The pair has started together in five of eight matches for the Olympic team so far this cycle.
• The U.S. is now 4-4-5 in the group stage since the Under-23 rule was introduced in 1992.

– U.S. MEN’S OLYMPIC SOCCER TEAM MATCH REPORT –

Match: U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team vs. France
Date: July 24, 2024
Competition: 2024 Olympics Men’s Soccer Tournament – Group A
Venue: Stade de Marseille; Marseille, France
Attendance: 67,000 (sold out)
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. ET (9 p.m. local time)
Weather: 85 degrees, clear

Lineups:
USA: 1-Patrick Schulte; 2-Nathan Harriel, 3-Walker Zimmerman, 12-Miles Robinson, 5-John Tolkin; 6-Gianluca Busio (4-Maximilian Dietz, 71’), 8-Tanner Tessmann (Capt.) 14-Djordje Mihailovic (16-Jack McGlynn, 76’); 11-Paxten Aaronson (9-Griffin Yow, 76’), 9-Duncan McGuire (17-Caleb Wiley, 86’), 7-Kevin Paredes (10-Taylor Booth, 76’)
Substitutes: 18-Gaga Slonina, 15-Benjamin Cremaschi
Head coach: Marko Mitrović

FRA: 16-Guillaume Restes; 5-Kiliann Sildillia, 4-Loïc Badé, 2-Castello Lukeba, 3-Adrien Truffert; 12-Enzo Millot (8-Maghnes Akliouche, 71’), 6-Manu Koné (17-Soungoutou Magassa, 87’), 7-Michael Olise (11-Désiré Doué, 82’), 13-Joris Chotard; 14-Jean-Philippe Mateta (9-Arnaud Kalimuendo, 71’), 10-Alexandre Lacazette
Substitutes: 1-Obed Nkambadio, 15-Bradley Locko, 18-Rayan Cherki
Head coach: Thierry Henry

Stats Summary: USA / FRA
Shots: 9 / 10
Shots on Goal: 3 / 4
Saves: 1 / 3
Corner Kicks: 2 / 8
Fouls: 10 / 18
Offside: 4 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
FRA – Kiliann Sildillia (Caution) 17th minute
USA – Kevin Paredes (Caution) 37

Officials:
Referee: Yael Falcon (ARG)
Assistant: Maximiliano Del Yesso (ARG)
Assistant 2: Facundo Rodriguez (ARG)
Fourth Official: Anahi Fernandez (URU)