By France, the Olympic hosts and tournament favorites, are set to face Egypt in a highly anticipated men’s soccer semifinal at the Paris 2024 Games. The match, scheduled for Monday evening in Lyon, pits the unbeaten French squad against a surprising Egyptian team that has already surpassed expectations.
Les Bleus, coached by French legend Thierry Henry, enter the semifinal with an impeccable record, having won all their matches without conceding a single goal. Their quarterfinal victory over Argentina was particularly noteworthy, with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early header proving decisive in a fiery encounter that ended with post-match scuffles.
France’s last Olympic gold in men’s soccer dates back to 1984, and Henry’s young squad is determined to end that drought on home soil. The team’s strength lies in its solid defense, anchored by goalkeeper Guillaume Restes and the central defensive pairing of Loic Bade and Castello Lukeba. In attack, captain Alexandre Lacazette and creative midfielder Michael Olise provide the spark for striker Mateta.
Egypt, on the other hand, has emerged as the tournament’s dark horse. The Pharaohs reached their first Olympic soccer semifinal in 60 years after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Paraguay in the quarterfinals. Their journey has included an impressive 2-1 victory over Spain in the group stage, highlighting their potential to cause upsets.
Ibrahim Adel has been the standout player for Egypt, scoring crucial goals throughout the tournament, including the late equalizer against Paraguay. The team’s experienced captain, Mohamed Elneny, provides stability in midfield, while Ahmed Sayed (Zizo) offers creativity in attack.
As France aims to set up a potential gold medal match against either Morocco or Spain, Egypt harbors dreams of a historic medal, having already surpassed their performance at Tokyo 2020. The contrast in styles and expectations sets the stage for an intriguing tactical battle.
France is expected to maintain their strong lineup, with Manu Kone running the midfield in the absence of the suspended Enzo Millot. Egypt, despite the physical toll of their extended quarterfinal match, is likely to field a familiar starting eleven, banking on the momentum they’ve built throughout the tournament.
While France enters as clear favorites, with data analysis suggesting a 57.57% probability of victory, Egypt’s resilience and ability to surprise cannot be underestimated. The most likely scoreline prediction favors a 1-0 win for France, but the Egyptians have shown they can compete with the tournament’s best teams.
Source: sportsmole.co.uk
