Hello and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of the men’s quarter-final between France and Argentina. Olympic football matches rarely have an edge like this: the video of Argentina players singing racist songs after their Copa America victory last month has caused outrage in France.
Here’s more on the story from Daniel Boffey.
There have been tensions between the nations since the circulation of a video after last month’s Copa América final, in which Argentina’s squad are seen singing about French players with African heritage.
In the opening days of the Games in Paris, Argentina’s football and rugby sevens teams were roundly booed by fans and France and Argentina players have acknowledged the heightened emotions before Friday evening’s game in Bordeaux.
Mateta said the game had become a national talking point. He said: “Argentina are the last world champions, a team that always ends up in the final of the tournaments they play. With what happened recently, all the French are touched by it. We’ll see what happens in the quarter-finals.”
The French football federation filed a complaint last month with Fifa over “racist and discriminatory remarks” made by Argentina players. Similar chants had been sung by Argentina fans before France and Argentina met two years ago in the men’s World Cup final, which Argentina won.
Read more…
Kick off 8pm BST, 9pm in Bordeaux. The winners will meet Egypt or Paraguay in Tuesday’s semi-final.
There has been recent animosity between the teams after Argentina players were filmed singing a derogatory song about France's black players in the aftermath of winning the Copa America on 14 July.
It was similar to a song sung by Argentina fans during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar - a tournament in which the South Americans went on to beat France in the final.
At the Olympics, Argentina's rugby sevens players have been booed in each of their games by the home French fans.
“With everything that has happened recently, everyone in France was affected, so we will see what happens in the quarter-finals,” said Jean-Philippe Mateta, who captained France in their win against New Zealand.
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, uncapped at senior level, is one of France's overage players
Argentina won the Copa America in July but were heavily criticised for singing a song about France players of African descent afterwards
After beating Colombia 1-0 in the Copa America final in July, several members of the Argentina squad were filmed singing a song questioning the heritage of France's black and mixed-race players.
Argentina fans had sung a song which was described as both racist and homophobic about France's players at the last World Cup.
The rivalry grew when Argentina beat France on penalties in a thrilling final - with Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick having been only enough for Les Bleus to earn a 3-3 draw.
After that December 2022 game, footage emerged from the Argentina dressing room of the players singing “a minute's silence for” and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez shouting “for Mbappe who is dead”.
At their celebrations back in Argentina, Aston Villa's Martinez held a toy baby with Mbappe's face on, while fans had a coffin lid with a picture of the forward which they set on fire.
Those issues were stirred up again after Argentina's Copa America final win.
Chelsea have decided not to take any action against their midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who was singing and had posted the video to his social media account.
His Blues team-mate Wesley Fofana, a French man with an Ivorian father, called it “uninhibited racism” and has since said he hopes the matter will have educated Fernandez.
Euphoria no excuse - Lloris on Argentina race row
Fernandez 'not racist' but must learn - Fofana
The men's football tournament of the Olympics is an under-23 event - with three overage players allowed.
Fifa does not force clubs to release players - so managers have to choose from who is available.
Hosts France had wanted to call up Mbappe, but Real Madrid would not allow their new star signing to play at the European Championship and Olympics in the same summer.
France's squad includes Crystal Palace striker Mateta, his former club-mate Michael Olise, who has joined Bayern Munich this summer, and captain Alexandre Lacazette, once of Arsenal.
Les Bleus beat the United States, Guinea and New Zealand in the group stages without conceding a goal. Their three overage players have all scored.
Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez is in Argentina's Olympics squad, just weeks after winning the Copa America with the senior team.
Former City defender Nicolas Otamendi, now of Benfica, and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, who was once registered to City but never played for them, are the other two overage players. Both were also involved in the victorious Copa America squad.
Argentina lost 2-1 to Morocco in their opening Group B game but beat Iraq and Ukraine to go through in second place. Botafogo forward Thiago Almada is their top scorer with two goals.
Thierry Henry had been linked with the Wales job earlier this summer
Both sides are managed by former Barcelona and Premier League players - although Thierry Henry and Javier Mascherano never played together.
Midfielder Mascherano joined Barca from Liverpool weeks after forward Henry left them for New York Red Bulls in the summer of 2010.
Mascherano, who won 147 caps for Argentina, played for West Ham as well as the Reds in England.
He won two gold medals in the Olympics, in 2004 and 2008, and has managed his country's under-20s since 2021.
Henry, who is Arsenal's all-time top scorer with 228 goals, scored 51 international goals in 123 games for France.
He has been France Under-21 boss since last year, and has previously been Belgium assistant and Monaco and Montreal Impact manager.
14:00: Morocco v United States, Paris
16:00: Japan v Spain, Lyon
18:00: Egypt v Paraguay, Marseille
20:00: France v Argentina, Bordeaux
Today's Olympics guide
Full Paris Olympics schedule
BBC's Paris Olympics TV schedule
Olympics: Glory for France in pool and BMX after three golds for GB on Friday
Top five stories from day seven at Paris Olympics
Boxing controversy - what we know and what we don't
Race, respect and reputation. VideoRace, respect and reputation
Linford Christie looks back on his extraordinary career, from the highs to the lows
Intense sci-fi thriller featuring George Clooney. VideoIntense sci-fi thriller featuring George Clooney
Two astronauts become stranded in space and must find a way to return to Earth
The journey to becoming a sporting legend. VideoThe journey to becoming a sporting legend
Over 20 years of behind-the-scenes footage exploring Andy Murray’s incredible career
Bound by fate, a car accident and a dog!
Warm-hearted Aussie rom-com about a flawed, funny couple getting it all utterly wrong
What's happening and when at the Paris Olympics?
'Tears everywhere as British icon Murray departs'
Ten Hag Q&A: Man Utd boss has 'left behind' job review
'Incredible!' Biles' floor routine cements all-around gold. Video'Incredible!' Biles' floor routine cements all-around gold
The moment Murray's tennis career came to an end. VideoThe moment Murray's tennis career came to an end
51 moves and going strong at 45 - meet football's ultimate journeyman
'Celtic hold all the aces at home amid clamour for more ambition'
Glover and women's four pipped to Olympic gold. VideoGlover and women's four pipped to Olympic gold
Three things we learned from Arsenal's America tour
'Compelling on and off court' - a decade on tour with Murray
'Key must approach McCullum about England white-ball job'
'I have never seen anything like that' - Yee's sprint wins GB gold. Video'I have never seen anything like that' - Yee's sprint wins GB gold
Is this the photo of the Paris 2024 Olympics?
Zaha & Stormzy - the non-league club with superstar owners
When do European leagues start for 2024-25 season?
Who are Team GB's medal winners at Paris 2024?
© 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
