France knock out Argentina as Mateta wins Olympic football grudge match

Hosts France into semi-final before brawl at the final whistle.

TENSIONS FLARING: France and Argentina players argue at the end of a quarter final soccer match between France and Argentina, at Bordeaux Stadium. Picture: AP Photo/Moises Castillo

Was there ever any chance that this occasion would pass quietly? The red flags were clear from the moment France and Argentina were, against expectation, paired in the Olympic quarter-finals. At full time the tensions that had been bubbling during a frantic closing spell boiled over and the past three weeks’ enmity crystallised in a seething brawl that spread from pitch to tunnel, players from both sides running to continue the argument inside.

France had won, and what a sweet victory it was. Maybe it was their obvious joy, partly manifesting itself in a post-match red card to the midfielder Enzo Millot for seemingly goading the opposition bench, that so enraged Argentina’s players. By then all hell had already broken loose, barely any member of either contingent uninvolved and Alexandre Lacazette needing to be physically restrained from going back for another confrontation. Unpacking who said what to whom would take a crack squad of detectives but the bottom line was that France had made a point they felt needed to be hammered home resoundingly.