Updated: July 31, 2024
France VS. New Zealand: 2024 Olympic Football
France finished Group A with a flawless record, defeating New Zealand 3-0 in their final group stage match at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta opened the scoring with a stunning flick, while Desire Doue and Arnaud Kalimuendo added second-half goals to secure the victory.
We also predicted the result –France Win Probability: 86%
Match Summary
First-Half Action: France started strong, immediately putting pressure on New Zealand’s defense. The first significant opportunity came in the 7th minute when Rayan Cherki’s solo effort was saved by New Zealand goalkeeper Alex Paulsen. The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when Mateta capitalized on a defensive error, flicking the ball into the net to give France a 1-0 lead.
Related – France Olympic Football Team
New Zealand Olympic Team
Second Half Highlights: New Zealand had a brief moment of hope in the second half with a near-miss from Matt Garbett. However, France’s dominance continued. In the 71st minute, Desire Doue doubled the lead, taking advantage of a fortunate bounce to score. Just three minutes later, Kalimuendo sealed the win with a well-placed shot following another blocked attempt.
Key Players:
- Jean-Philippe Mateta: Scored the opening goal, showcasing his clinical finishing.
- Desire Doue: Added the second goal, contributing to France’s commanding performance.
- Arnaud Kalimuendo: Scored the third goal, ensuring a comfortable win for Les Bleus.
Match Stats:
- Possession: France 61% – New Zealand 39%
- Shots on Target: France 10 – New Zealand 1
- Total Shots: France 32 – New Zealand 8
Group A Standings:
- France (3-0, +9 goal difference)
- United States (2-1, +5 goal difference)
- New Zealand (1-2, -4 goal difference)
- Guinea (0-3, -10 goal difference)
Next Steps: France advances to the quarter-finals with an unblemished record, looking strong contenders for the gold medal. New Zealand, finishing third, is eliminated from the tournament.
Stay tuned for more updates and comprehensive coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympic basketball tournament.
