Comments on U23 France vs U23 USA
The match U23 France vs U23 USA is considered a match that can affect the top spot in Group A, Olympic men's soccer 2024 . In this group, the remaining two teams, U23 New Zealand and U23 Guinea, are rated lower.
France was a regular team that reached the Olympic men's soccer playoffs several decades ago. They won the Olympic gold medal in 1984. However, after that, French men's soccer failed to qualify for the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 conferences.
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, France U23 participated but lost to both Japan and Mexico, being eliminated early from the group stage. France U23's hope of winning a Paris 2024 Olympic medal at home is placed on coach Thierry Henry - a former player of the Arsenal club and the French national team.
U23 France did not have to go through complicated qualifying rounds thanks to their status as Olympic hosts, and they had an impressive series of friendly matches with 3 wins and 3 draws in 2024. In which, they won 4- 1 against U23 Paraguay and overcame U23 Dominica 7-0.
However, in the most recent friendly match, they struggled to hold Japan U23 to a 1-1 draw after being behind. With the presence of Michael Olise - Bayern Munich's rookie, Mateta or Lacazette, France U23 is a strong candidate for the gold medal.
As for the US U23, they came to the Paris Olympics as the champions of the 2022 CONCACAF U20 Tournament. They defeated Dominica 6-0 in the final and won the right to compete in Olympic men's soccer after 16 years of absence.
After being eliminated in the group stage in 2008, the US U23 team did not participate in the 2012, 2016 or 2020 Olympics. To prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the US U23 team had a series of friendly matches with erratic results. They lost 0-2 to U23 Japan, won 1-0 to U23 Paraguay and drew 1-1 to U23 Spain.
Forces and achievements in confrontation
This is the first time in history that France and the United States will face each other in the Olympic men's soccer competition. However, on March 25 this year, the two teams met in a friendly match in France. At that time, France U23 took an early 2-0 lead but was equalized 2-2 in the last 10 minutes of the match.
With the presence of a number of famous names playing in Europe, France U23 will likely play in a 4-3-1-2 formation, with the highly rated striker pair being Alexandre Lacazette of Lyon and Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace.
Bayern Munich's new signing Olise will play right behind the duo, thereby reuniting with Mateta just a few weeks after leaving Selhurst Park, while Borussia Monchengladbach's Manu Kone is a prominent name in midfield.
Some attention is likely to fall on RB Leipzig's highly-rated centre-back Castello Lukeba, while Guillaume Restes, 19, from Toulouse, currently a regular in Ligue 1, will keep goal. .
Compared to the home team, the US U23's force is not as highly appreciated. However, with notable names like Gabriel Slonina, Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson, Pasten Aaronson... they can completely create a surprise.
Expected lineup of 2 teams:
France U23: Restes, Sildillia, Lukeba, Bade, Truffert, Millot, Kone, Chotard, Olise, Mateta, Lacazette.
US U23: Schulte, Harriel, Robinson, Zimmerman, Wiley, McGlynn, Tessmann; Booth, Aaronson, Paredes, McGuire.
In the first match in Group A of Paris 2024 Olympic men's soccer , U23 New Zealand will meet U23 Guinea, which will take place at 10:00 p.m. (Vietnam time) on July 24.
