The reporter reported coldly This morning, the Paris Olympic men's football quarterfinals were all over, and the host France defeated Argentina 1-0, entering the Olympic men's football semifinals again after 40 years. Japan, which has no overage players, lost 3-0 to Spain and failed to make history by reaching the semi-finals of men's football for two consecutive Olympic Games. Meanwhile, Morocco swept United States 4-0 and Egypt eliminated Paraguay on penalties, making it the first time in history that two African teams reached the final four of the Olympic men's soccer. The semi-finals will be Morocco against Spain and France against Egypt, ensuring at least that African teams will win Olympic men's medals for the first time in eight years.

Of course, the Olympic men's football quarter-finals are most concerned about the "revenge battle" between France and Argentina. In the end, this game was indeed a new grievance, France successfully avenged the national team in the 2022 World Cup final, after the game the two teams broke out a group conflict involving up to 30 people, and led to the France team's main midfielder Miu was sent off with a red card. The feud between the two teams, which has lasted for more than a year, seems to be bound to continue.

Although both teams tried to downplay the recent racist controversy between the two teams before the game, emphasizing more attention to the game, they still added new grievances. The "revenge war" laid the groundwork for the outbreak of conflict from the beginning, and the 42,000-capacity Bordeaux stadium was almost full, most of them France fans. As in Argentina's first match against Morocco, there was a huge boo in the stands when the Argentina national anthem was played before the game. Before the game, France's Democratic Congolese striker Carimundo said that he was interested in revenge, and the confrontation on the field was extremely fierce, with the referee blowing as many as 30 fouls and issuing 10 yellow cards. The organizing committee learned the lessons of the battle between Argentina and Morocco, and a large number of police officers were deployed in the stands to maintain order.

France took the lead in the opening five minutes after just joining Bayern Munich winger Olise assisted former Crystal Palace team-mate Matteta with a header. Olise's goal was disallowed in the 83rd minute after VAR ruled that teammate Akeliusher had stepped on a foul, and in the 10th minute of stoppage time, Mateta also fired at the post. Argentina came out in the last moments, unfortunately their ability to seize opportunities was too poor, and in the end, France eliminated two-time Olympic men's gold medallist Argentina.

But the real focus of the game was after the game: France substitutes and staff rushed into the stadium to celebrate, followed by a clash with Argentina players with more than 30 participants. Otamendi, Bray and Bertrand took the lead, while Rulli was also tangled with France defender Sidilla. The crowd gradually moved towards the sidelines, and did not stop in the tunnel of the players. After returning shortly after, the France players interacted with the crowd to celebrate, and raised three fingers to the stands in the Argentina fan zone, as if mocking the three-time World Cup winner Argentina as a defeat at their feet.

As for the cause of the conflict, France media believe that Argentina players moved to France midfielder Miu, who rushed into the stadium to celebrate, triggering a large-scale group fight between the two teams. Argentina's overage defender Otamendi explained that Miu's shouting and indecent gestures to the Argentina bench were provocative, and Miu received a red card and was unable to play in the semi-finals, pointing out that France defender Bader also crossed the line. Miu, Sidilla and Bard, who were accused by Argentina players, are all African-born mixed-race players born in France, Miu and Sidilla are of Malagasy descent, and Bard is of Ivorian origin, all of whom are black France players targeted by Enzo's racist songs.

France coach Thierry Henry did not approve of the conflict, especially as a result of the unnecessary loss of a key player. The racist controversy between the two teams, which had subsided over time, continued to worsen due to the post-match clash. The two teams, which have no historical vendettas, have developed into bitter enemies since the 2022 World Cup final due to racist disputes. And not only football, but also during the Paris Olympics, in rugby sevens and swimming, there were clashes between France spectators, players and Argentina. The rivalry that started with football has risen to the entire sports scene in both countries.

The feud between France and Argentina continues to deepen, and it was the biggest highlight of the Olympic men's quarter-finals. But at the competitive level, Morocco and Egypt reached the semi-finals, the first time two African teams reached the Olympic men's semi-finals. Regardless of the result of the semi-finals, at least one Olympic men's medal will be added to the African team. Egypt is the first team to reach the Olympic men's semi-finals for the first time in 60 years, and Morocco is the first time in the team's history to reach the Olympic men's semi-finals. After reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, Morocco football has once again reached the semi-finals of the World Series.

African football has gradually become a force to be reckoned with in the history of men's Olympic football since the 1990s. Before the 1992 Olympics, Egypt had only reached the semi-finals twice in 72 years (1928 and 1964) of the 10 African teams participating in the Olympic men's football team. Ghana won their first Olympic men's medal (bronze) for African football at 1992, Nigeria in 1996, Cameroon again in 2000, and silver and bronze in 2008 and 2016. But Egypt, Côte d'Ivoire and South Africa all missed out on the semi-finals at Tokyo 2021, and this year Egypt and Morocco finally made history.

The semi-final of Morocco, led by Paris star Achraf, will face Spain in another match closely linked to geopolitics, illegal immigration and cultural conflict. As for Egypt, who beat Paraguay on penalties to advance, it may be difficult to prevent the hosts from reaching the final. However, both teams have at least a chance to win their first Olympic medal in men's history.

The only Asian representative of Japan in the Olympic men's football quarterfinals, in the end, lost 0-3 to Spain and failed to enter the men's football semifinals for two consecutive Olympic Games. Since India reached the semi-finals of the Olympic Games in 1956, the 21 Asian teams have reached the semi-finals only six times combined, with only Japan (1968) and Korea (2012) winning bronze medals.

Japan coach Oiwa Tsuyoshi burst into tears after the game, regretting that he could not succeed in revenge, and the main midfielder Mitsuki Saito also said that he could not break through and score at all. The headlines of Japanese media such as "Nikkan Sports" are "complete defeat", although there is controversy about whether the goal is offside, but the gap in overall strength is still very obvious. The three Asian teams participating in the Paris Olympics, Iraq and Uzbekistan were all out of the group stage, Japan lost the quarterfinals, and the Asian teams once again missed the semi-finals after the men's football competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, at least the gap in the Olympic arena is still obvious.