Paris 2024: Olympic men's football matchday 1 roundup

Japan's thrashing of 10-man Paraguay was the major highlight of the first night of men's football at the Olympic Games. In a whirlwind opening to the Olympic soccer tournament, France defeated the United States 3-0, and Morocco defeated Argentina.

On July 24th, in the Olympic men's soccer event, France defeated the United States 3-0 thanks to two spectacular goals scored by Alexandre Lacazette and Michael Olise. In the 61st minute of the match in Marseille, former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette scored a long-range shot, but the result was still in question until Loic Bade scored a late header to put the game away.

While the game remained scoreless, the host country rode its luck against the United States squad, which had Djordje Mihailovic's strike hit the crossbar. The goal by Lacazette followed almost shortly after that. Furthermore, the United States seemed capable of causing another upset by constantly allowing France to play catch-up. But France capitalized on their good fortune, and they never got closer than Mihailovic's attempt. Lacazette beat US goalkeeper Patrick Schulte with a low drive from around 20 yards out. Olise, a new player for Bayern Munich, scored eight minutes later with a long-range strike that went into the same corner. France jumped to the top of Group A when Bade's 85th-minute header put the game away. New Zealand moved up to second place after beating Guinea 2-1.

Morocco 2, Argentina 1

As the Olympic soccer tournament got underway, spectators stormed the field far into stoppage time, disrupting the match and ultimately leading to a two-hour delay. Morocco eventually prevailed, 2-1. After what seemed like an equalizer by Cristian Medina in the 16th minute of stoppage time, irate supporters from Argentina stormed the field to protest, preventing Morocco from securing an epic victory.

Supporters threw objects onto the pitch, and security had to intervene, halting the Saint-Etienne game for over two hours and asking the spectators to leave the stadium. The goal was later adjudged offside just before play began, causing the Moroccan players to celebrate in the last minutes of the match.

See our Men Olympic 2024 group A predictions and odds

Following Argentina's stunning comeback from a 2-0 deficit (strikes by Soufiane Rahimi either side of halftime), the competition got off to a wild start. Argentina is a favorite in France and won gold in 2004 and 2008.

It seemed like Medina's close-range header had leveled the score after Giuliano Simeone's strike in the 68th minute had Argentina pounding Morocco goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui with shots. The game was formally postponed due to the fury produced by it, which led to Moroccan supporters rushing the field and some even throwing garbage.

With four players from Argentina's 2022 World Cup winning squad still on the field, Morocco's Rahimi scored in first-half stoppage time and then converted a penalty kick in the 49th minute to seal the victory.

Spain 2, Uzbekistan 1

Sergio Gomez scored the game-winning goal in Spain's first Group C match against Uzbekistan. About 35,000 spectators attended the inaugural Olympic event at Paris's Parc des Princes. Spain won the 1992 Olympics gold medal with a goal by Marc Pubill in the 29th minute. Since then, the squad has won silver twice, the most recent being in the Tokyo Games. Uzbekistan, competing in its first Olympic Games, was tied at halftime thanks to a penalty kick conversion by Eldor Shomurodov. Three minutes after going up against a penalty save by Abduvohid Nematov in the 59th minute, Gomez found the back of the net from about twelve yards out.

See our Men Olympic 2024 group B predictions and odds

New Zealand 2, Guinea 1

New Zealand won their Group A opening against Guinea in Nice thanks to an injury-time goal from Ben Waine. Guinea goalkeeper Soumaila Sylla leaped to save a penalty shot from New Zealand captain Matthew Garbett in the 24th minute. A minute after taking a 1-0 down, New Zealand swiftly rallied and scored via Garbett. Guinea pulled even in the 72nd minute with Amadou Diawara, but Waine scored for New Zealand only one minute later. Guinea made its Olympic debut in Tokyo, while New Zealand went to the semifinals.

Egypt 0, Dominican Republic 0

The Group C match between Egypt and the Dominican Republic in Nantes ended in a scoreless tie. The Dominican Republic's debutant, Peter Gonzalez, seemed to score early in the match, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul in the buildup. Among African nations, Egypt has sent the most athletes to the Olympics (13 times), although they have never placed higher than fourth. The squad advanced to the quarterfinals in the Tokyo Olympics.

See our Men Olympic 2024 group C predictions and odds

Japan 5, Paraguay 0

Japan dominated Paraguay in Group D, thanks to goals from Shunsuke Mito and Shota Fujio. After Wilder Vera was sent off in the 25th minute of the match in Bordeaux, Japan scored four goals in the second half to capitalize on Paraguay's 10-man disadvantage. VAR reviewed a foul against Yu Hirakawa, and Vera was given red. Mito had already scored in the 18th when things happened. In the 63rd, he scored again. Six minutes later, Rihito Yamamoto doubled the lead. Mito's replacement, Fujio, scored again in the 73rd and 81st minutes to seal the victory.

See our Men Olympic 2024 group D predictions and odds

Iraq 2, Ukraine 1

Iraq beat Ukraine in Group B thanks to a second-half goal from substitute Ali Jasim. After Valentyn Rubchynskyi put Ukraine ahead in the 53rd minute in Lyon, Iraq wasted no time taking advantage of a penalty to draw level. Ali scored the game-winning goal in the 75th minute after Aymen Hussein converted in the 56th. On three points each, Iraq and Morocco are atop their group.