On Thursday, France’s men’s Olympic football team lost 4-1 to Mexico and a powerful Spain team struggled to a scoreless draw against Egypt. France, led by Sylvain Ripoll, hasn’t medaled in the Olympics since 1984, when they won gold, and they completely imploded in the second half at Tokyo Stadium.
Ripoll, once the manager of Lorient, expressed his displeasure with both the result and the team’s overall performance. We needed a strong performance to be competitive, but we didn’t have one.
Mexico Thrashes France and Spain
Alexis Vega scored for Mexico less than two minutes after halftime, and 55 minutes later, Sebastian Cordova added a second goal. With 21 minutes left, Andre-Pierre Gignac, France’s 35-year-old captain who last played for his country in the Euro 2016 final loss to Portugal, scored a penalty kick to bring his team within one.
With 21 minutes left, France’s 35-year-old captain Andre-Pierre Gignac, whose previous game was the 2016 Euro final loss to Portugal, scored a penalty kick to pull his team within one.
Late goals from Uriel Antuna and Eduardo Aguirre ensured that Mexico would repeat as champions after their initial run of success in 2012. The French have a tough road ahead of them if they want to finish in the top two in Group A, with games against Covid-hit South Africa this Sunday and hosts Japan on July 28.
In Sapporo, Spain also struggled against Egypt despite playing six players who made the Euro 2020 semifinals. The midfielder Dani Ceballos, who spent the previous two seasons on loan with Arsenal, came the closest to scoring with a first-half shot that smacked against the post.
The 1992 champions, Spain, play Australia at home in three days before finishing up Group C against Argentina.
Group B newcomers New Zealand got off to a winning start with a 1-0 win over South Korea in Kashima, thanks to a goal from Burnley striker Chris Wood, one of three players in the squad who are older over the age limit. Brazil, the defending champions, play their first match of the tournament against Germany later on Thursday.
Conclusion
France, led by Sylvain Ripoll, hasn’t medaled in the Olympics since 1984, when they won gold, and they completely fell apart in the second half at Tokyo Stadium.
Ripoll, once the manager of Lorient, expressed his displeasure with both the result and the team’s overall performance.
We needed a strong performance to be competitive, but we didn’t have one. Mexico’s Alexis Vega scored less than two minutes after the half, and Mexico’s Sebastian Cordova added another goal in the 55th minute.
