France Reaches Olympic Football Final After Extra Time Thriller Against Egypt.

 

France Reaches Olympic Football Final After Extra Time Thriller Against Egypt

In a dramatic clash that captivated fans, Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice as France overcame 10-man Egypt 3-1 after extra time, securing a place in the final of the men's Olympic football competition. This marks a historic moment for Thierry Henry's side, as they are guaranteed their first medal in the tournament in 40 years. France will face Spain at the Parc des Princes on Friday at 17:00 BST.

The match, held in Lyon, saw Egypt take an early lead when Mahmoud Saber powered in a close-range effort. The Egyptians held on to this lead until the dying moments of regular time. However, France's relentless pursuit of an equaliser paid off when Crystal Palace forward Mateta, 27, latched onto a pass from Michael Olise and swept in a late equaliser.

The turning point came when Egypt's Omar Fayed was sent off for a second yellow card, having earlier been booked in second-half stoppage time for protesting a French penalty appeal that was overturned by VAR. With Egypt reduced to ten men, France capitalised on their numerical advantage in extra time. Mateta headed the hosts into the lead just nine minutes in, igniting celebrations among the home supporters.

France sealed their victory with a third goal from Olise, who added the finishing touch to a well-executed counter-attack. The win sets up a thrilling final against Spain, promising an exciting showdown for the gold medal.

Meanwhile, Egypt will compete against Morocco in the bronze-medal match on Thursday in Nantes, kicking off at 16:00. Despite their valiant efforts, Egypt's Olympic journey has come to a challenging conclusion, but they will be determined to secure a podium finish.

As France prepares for the final, the nation eagerly anticipates a potential gold medal, a triumph that would end a four-decade wait and etch this team into the annals of French football history.