PARIS, August 2, 2024 - The 2024 Olympic Games could see the first all-European men's football showdown in 32 years after France and Spain set up semi-finals against Egypt and Morocco respectively.

The last 'home’ continent final and victory was in 1992 when hosts Spain triumphed for the only time in Barcelona. France also boast only one gold medal, from Los Angeles in 1984. That victory saw France proclaimed as both European and Olympic champions, a double which Spain aim to emulate next Friday in Paris.

FIRST TIME IN 40 YEARS France reached the men’s semi-finals for the first time in 40 years with a 1-0 win over Argentina which ended in bad-tempered scuffles between players and coaching staff in Bordeaux. France's Stuttgart midfielder Enzo Millot was shown a red card after celebrating in front of the Argentina bench.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early goal provided France with a minor measure of revenge for both the World Cup Final defeat in Qatar in 2022 then abusive jeering by Argentina’s players after Copa America success last month. Coach Thierry Henry’s men will be favourites to beat Egypt on Monday and reach the Olympic final for the first time since 1984. Egypt beat Paraguay 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 extra time draw in Marseille.

ARGENTINA CHASED France needed only five minutes to grab the lead against Argentina through a superb header from Mateta after a corner by Michael Olise. Argentina chased an equaliser in vain. Giuliano Simeone wasted their clearest opportunity when he headed over the bar from close range just before halftime.

Argentina’s defeat meant failure in the attempt to become the first nation to hold both world and Olympic crowns since Italy in 1936.

Egypt reached the semi-finals by hitting back against Paraguay from a goal down in Marseille. They had fallen behind in the 71st minute to a goal from Diego Gomez but levelled two minutes later through Ibrahim Adel. The shootout saw Marcelo Perez miss Paraguay’s second effort while the Pharaohs converted all their spot-kicks.

SPAIN EDGE CLOSER Spain edged closer to becoming the first European team to win the Olympic men’s crown since their success in 1992. Two goals from Fermin Lopez helped deliver a 3-0 quarter-final victory over Japan 3-0 in Lyon.

Barcelona midfielder Fermin is having a busy summer after being a member of the senior Spanish team’s triumphant European Championship squad last month. He opened the scoring with a left-foot drive in the 11th minute and struck his own and Spain’s second in the 73rd. Abel Ruiz wrapped up the scoring from close range four minutes from time.

FOUR-STAR PERFORMANCE Morocco cruised into the last four after dominating from start to finish against the US for a 4-0 victory at the Parc des Princes. Soufiane Rahimi fired them towards the last four for the first time by converting  a 29th-minute penalty for his fifth goal of the tournament.

Ilias Akhomach doubled the lead from close range just after the hour and captain Achraf Hakimi struck a third seven minutes later. Substitute Mehdi Maouhoub completed the scoring with another penalty in stoppage time after a VAR check for a handball.

Hakimi, who plays in France for Paris Saint-Germain, said: “I felt like I was playing at home in this stadium where I play for my club, but also because our fans were very noisy. I hope they can follow us all the way to the final.”