National Associations that took a gamble on a subtle combination of experience and unknown quantities in national colours are reaping the benefits of their boldness thanks to mercurial displays at the Olympic Games football tournament.
Morocco’s march to the apex of global football’s pyramid gained fresh impetus when the Qatar World Cup semifinalists whipped USA 4-0 via goals from five goal tournament top scorer Soufiane Rahimi, Achraf Hakimi, Ilias Akhomach and El Mehdi Moauboub to book a semifinal date with Spain.
Al Ain forward Rahimi is a well known quantity having played a central role in the Atlas Lions’ World Cup escapades while Paris Saint Germain’s Hakimi is one of the most recognisable faces in the game. 20-year-old Villarreal upstart Akhomach and 21-year-old Raja Casablanca talent Maouboub played themselves into contention for places in Walid Regragui’s senior squad.
Morocco’s module is replicated by France who prevailed 1-0 over old rivals Argentina in a tempestuous affair dubbed ‘the Battle of Bordeaux’. Les Bleus winning goal was nodded home by 26-year-old Crystal Palace player of the year Jean Philippe Mateta who was a dominating presence on the pitch and during the off field melee.
Les Bleus senior national team manager Didier Deschamps will have noted Mateta’s zest, 22-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Olise’s assist, constant probing passes and willingness to put in a good shift. It’s easy to see the pair invited for duty in September’s Uefa Nations League date against Italy. Deschamps usually relies on veteran Antoine Greizmann for creativity but Olise is clearly an upgrade on the Atletico Madrid forward.
France are not short of defensive options. William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahim Konate are all top notch but it will be hard to overlook the Loic Bade-Castillo Lukeba partnership that has kept four consecutive clean sheets. 24-year-old Sevilla centre back Bade and RB Leipzig’s Lukeba have shown they are ready for the big time.
Legendary Egyptian striker Hossam Hassan who is the current Pharaohs manager will have noted that Pyramids forward Ibrahim Adel was yet again the talismanic player who drew the North Africans level before they ejected Paraguay in a penalty shoot out to book a date with Spain.
Japan boss Go Oiwa will perhaps regret not fielding a single overage player as the young Blue Samurai had no answers to the mercurial strikes from Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez who underlined his Euro 2024 title winning credentials by plundering a brace of classy goals in Spain’s 3-0 rout.
RESULTS
Morocco 4-0 USA,
Spain 3-0 Japan,
France 1-0 Argentina,
Egypt 1-1 Paraguay
