By France delivered a masterclass performance in their Olympic soccer opener, defeating the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) 3-0 in Marseille. The match, marking the USA’s return to Olympic soccer since Beijing 2008, saw a tightly contested first half before France’s quality shone through in the second.
The first half ended goalless, with the USMNT defending resolutely and frustrating the French attack. However, the tide turned dramatically after the break. Alexandre Lacazette, one of France’s overage players, broke the deadlock in the 61st minute with a spectacular 30-yard strike that dipped and bounced past USA goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
Michael Olise, fresh from his transfer to Bayern Munich, doubled France’s lead in the 69th minute. The former Crystal Palace winger cut inside from the right and curled a left-footed shot into the far corner, showcasing the skill that has made him one of Europe’s most exciting young talents.
France’s dominance was cemented in the 85th minute when Loic Bade headed home from a corner kick, sealing the 3-0 victory and sending the USMNT to the bottom of the group with a -3 goal difference.
The match statistics reflected France’s control, with the hosts enjoying 64% possession and outshooting the USA 5-2. The USMNT’s next challenges in the group stage will be against New Zealand on Saturday and Guinea on Tuesday, both crucial matches if they hope to progress in the tournament. This opening match highlighted the gap between the two teams, with France’s blend of experienced professionals like Lacazette and rising stars like Olise proving too much for the American side. As the Olympic tournament progresses, the USMNT will need to regroup quickly and find ways to compete against high-caliber opposition if they hope to advance beyond the group stage
