In the Olympic men’s football final at London 2012, Mexico defeated France 4-1 while a star-studded Spanish team was held to a scoreless draw.
In the first half of their Group A match, Mexico and France failed to score, but the French scored just two minutes into the second half.
Men’s Football Tournament
The South Americans, who were eliminated in the group stage in Rio 2016, got on the board first in the men’s football tournament at Tokyo 2020 thanks to a goal by Alexis Vega, who sent a powerful header into the net off the ground. Diego Lainez, a great winger for Real Betis, delivered a pinpoint cross from the right that set up the header.
In the 55th minute, they went up 2-0 on a fantastic goal by Sebastian Cordova with his left foot.
A penalty gave France a goal back 14 minutes into the game. After a clear penalty was committed by Cesar Montes on Randal Kolo Muani within the box, the referee made his decision quickly.
Andre-Pierre Gignac, the French captain who plays for Tigres of Mexico’s Liga MX, scored a goal past the experienced Guillermo Ochoa.
Despite the penalty miss, 36-year-old Ochoa was an important part of the Mexican defence. He has been a regular on the national team since 2005 and has participated in four World Cups and two Olympic Games.
Uriel Antuna, a substitute who had been on the field for less than 10 minutes, scored in the 80th minute to end any dreams of a late French comeback.
Eduardo Aguirre, another late substitute, entered the game with less than two minutes remaining and scored the team’s fourth goal in the second minute of stoppage time. Meanwhile, a star studded Spanish side could not find a way past the Egyptian defence in their opening Group C football match.
The Pharaohs held the defending champions to a scoreless draw, keeping them from gaining any ground on the other title contenders.
Spain, featuring six players from the La Roja senior team that advanced to the semifinals of EURO 2020 last month, managed just five shots on goal and were effectively shut out inside the box.
Egypt will be pleased with the outcome and will use it as motivation to continue surprising their group-mates, Argentina and Australia.
The finest Olympic performance by an Egyptian national team occurred in 1964, when they advanced to the semifinals before losing in the bronze medal game against the United States.
Liverpool’s starting striker Mo Salah could have been a larger threat for Egypt if he had been released for the Olympics.
However, the Egyptians have shown more consistency after employing 14 players from the side that won the 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.
Last Words
Group B match winner for New Zealand was scored by Chris Wood, a striker for the club’s English Premier League club in Burnley.
Also, Côte d’Ivoire beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 despite playing with ten men, thanks to a goal from Franck Kessie in the 66th minute. Seven minutes into extra time, Aboubacar Doumbia was sent off.
Abdulelah Alamri scored an own goal in the 39th minute, giving Côte d’Ivoire a 1-0 lead; however, Saudi Arabia equalised five minutes later through Salem Aldawsari.
