France vs Egypt

A place in the 2024 Olympic Games final beckons for host nation France and surprise package Egypt as the two teams lock horns at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in a handsomely-looking semi-final showdown.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s fifth-minute header inspired France to a narrow 1-0 win in an ill-tempered quarter-final tie against Argentina, with ugly scenes at the final whistle marring the mouth-watering encounter between old foes. Thierry Henry’s side paid a hefty price for a massive collision on the pitch at the end, losing Stuttgart star Enzo Millot to a red-card suspension. Despite winning all four 2024 Olympic matches ‘to nil’ en route to the semi-finals, Les Bleus have struggled for discipline, picking up the third-most ten bookings (Y9, R1). On a more positive note, they’ve improved their game entries after scoring their first four tournament goals beyond the hour mark. Henry’s men have opened the scoring within 20 minutes in their last two outings, suggesting a quick-fire start could be in store.

As for Egypt, Ibrahim Adel’s 88th-minute equalizer helped the African powerhouse haul back a second-half deficit against Paraguay before winning that quarter-final tie on penalties to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1964 in Tokyo. However, there’s hardly a good omen for the Pharaohs here, considering they’ve bowed out in both previous last-four ties at the Games. As if that’s not ominous enough, Egypt’s only meeting with France at the Olympic Games resulted in a 2-0 defeat in Los Angeles in 1984. On the bright side, Rogerio Micale’s charges have gone from strength to strength at this tournament, going unbeaten in all four matches (W2, D2 – 90 minutes only). Defensively robust, they’ve conceded an average of only 0.5 goals per game.