PARIS – Men’s soccer kicked off at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Wednesday with two Concacaf nations in action.
The Dominican Republic made its debut in soccer at the Olympics with a draw. The United States ended a 16-year absence at the men’s soccer tournament in a 3-nil loss to hosts France.
Historic match for the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic made its debut in soccer at the Olympics with a scoreless draw against Egypt in Group C at the La Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes, France.
Heinz Morschell nearly opened the scoring in the 16’ but was denied by Egyptian defender Omar Fayed.
Francisco Reyes whipped a cross into the box from the right touchline in the 31’ but the cross was intercepted by goalkeeper Hamza Alaa.
Dominican goalkeeper Xavier Valdez deflected a dangerous cross into the box in the 63’ and was called upon one minute later to deny a shot on goal from Mohamed Shehata.
Peter Gonzalez had a free kick attempt in the 70’ but was denied by Fayed.
Jose de Leon struck a diagonal ball across goal in the 78’ but was just outside the far post.
Hossam Abdelmaguid struck a header in the box off a last gasp Egypt attempt from a corner kick, in the 90’+7, but Valdez secured the ball to preserve the draw and seal a clean sheet.
The result gives the Dominican Republic its first point in the tournament. The nation’s next test comes against group leaders Spain on Saturday in Bordeaux.
USA made Olympics return against hosts France
The United States made its return to men’s soccer at the Summer Olympics in a 3-nil loss to hosts France in Group A at the Marseille Stadium in Marseille, France.
Paxten Aaronson struck the best U.S. attempt of the first half in the 38’ but was denied by French goalkeeper Guillaume Restes.
Djordje Mihailovic had an attempt from long range in the 59’ but was blocked by the crossbar.
Alexandre Lacazette struck from outside the box in the 61’ to place France in the lead.
The U.S. came close to tying as Aaronson struck a header towards goal in the 63’ but was again denied by Restes.
John Tolkin struck a header at the left post in the 64’ but Restes was quick to react to the effort.
Michael Olise extended the lead for the hosts in the 69’ with a curling effort from outside the box.
Loic Bade struck a header off a corner kick in the 85’ to place France further in the lead.
The match marked the first for the U.S. men’s national team at the Olympic Games after 16 years. Marko Mitrovic’s squad will stay in Marseille where they will face New Zealand on Saturday with its knockout stage hopes on the line.
No time to sulk, we're prepping for match two on Saturday. #OlyMNT x @Visa pic.twitter.com/5OrZontaH9
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) July 24, 2024
Canada women kick off gold medal defense on Thursday
The Canada women’s national team will aspire to win another medal at the Olympics when it meets New Zealand in Group A on Thursday at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in St-Etienne, France.
Thirteen members on Canada’s 18-player roster return from the gold medal team at Tokyo 2020. Janine Beckie, Kadeisha Buchanan, Jessie Fleming, Ashley Lawrence, Nichelle Prince, and Quinn were also part of the bronze medal team at Rio 2016 and will look to play in their third Olympics.
Kailen Sheridan, Vanessa Gilles, Jayde Riviere, Julia Grosso, Jordyn Huitema, Adriana Leon, and Evelyne Viens round out the repeat call-ups from the championship squad four years ago. Sabrina D’Angelo will be at her second Olympics and was also part of the bronze medal team eight years prior.
Simi Awujo, Sydney Collins, Cloe Lacasse and Jade Rose will all look to get on the field for their Olympic debuts. Coached by Bev Priestman, this Canada team will strive to reach the podium in women’s soccer for a fourth consecutive occasion.
U.S. women debut with Emma Hayes
The United States women’s national team starts its quest to return to an Olympics final when it meets Zambia for the first time ever in Group B on Thursday at Nice Stadium in Nice, France.
The 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup champions will look to win its fifth gold medal and first since the 2012 games. The U.S. are the all-time leaders with four gold medals in women’s soccer and the only nation to have won multiple times.
Emma Hayes will coach in her first official competition with the U.S. women and has called up eight players from the Tokyo 2020 squad that won a bronze medal.
Captain Lindsey Horan is the most-capped player on the roster with 150 international appearances. Crystal Dunn (149), Alyssa Naeher (106) and Rose Lavelle (101) are the three other players past the century mark in appearances.
Horan, Naeher, Dunn, Lavelle along with Tierna Davidson, Emily Sonnett, and Mallory Swanson round out a group that helped the U.S. win the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, also hosted in France.
The USWNT has opened the tournament with a victory in five of their seven previous participations. The U.S. is one two teams to appear in every edition of the women’s Olympic soccer tournament.