By In a dazzling display of football prowess, hosts France secured their place in the Olympic quarter-finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over New Zealand at the Paris 2024 Games. The win maintains Les Bleus’ perfect record in the tournament, setting the stage for a thrilling knockout phase.
France’s head coach, Thierry Henry, made a bold move by introducing nine changes to the lineup that previously defeated Mali. Despite the shake-up, the French side looked formidable from the opening whistle. Rising star Rayan Cherki, wearing the number 18 jersey, took control of the midfield, orchestrating France’s attacks with finesse.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Cherki’s mesmerizing run led to a chaotic sequence in the New Zealand box. A tackle attempt by Joe Bell on Cherki resulted in the ball ricocheting off Finn Surman, falling perfectly for Jean-Philippe Mateta. The French striker seized the opportunity with a delightful finish, putting Les Bleus ahead 1-0.
Despite falling behind, the Kiwis showed moments of promise. Ben Waine, Sarpreet Singh, and Michael Boxall all had attempts blocked, while Boxall narrowly missed with a header from a corner kick. However, France’s defensive solidity, anchored by the impressive Johann Lepenant, kept New Zealand at bay.
After a somewhat flat start to the second half, Henry’s tactical adjustments proved crucial. The introduction of Michael Olise and Maghnes Akliouche around the hour mark injected new life into the French attack.
The strategy paid off quickly as Desire Doue capitalized on a fortunate deflection to coolly slot home France’s second goal. The floodgates opened, and Arnaud Kalimuendo added a third shortly after, putting the result beyond doubt.
With this victory, France extends their unbeaten run to eight matches and sets up an enticing quarter-final clash against Argentina. The hosts are now just three wins away from clinching their second-ever Olympic gold medal in football, with their only previous triumph coming at Los Angeles 1984.
For New Zealand, the defeat marks the end of their Olympic journey, as they bow out of the tournament after two consecutive losses. A late attempt at consolation by Lachlan Bayliss was brilliantly saved by French goalkeeper Obed Nkambadio, preserving the clean sheet.
As the final whistle blew, the Parisian crowd erupted in celebration, their dreams of Olympic glory very much alive. With Thierry Henry at the helm and a talented squad firing on all cylinders, France’s quest for gold on home soil continues to gather momentum.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Johann Lepenant (France)
