Akliouche, Magassa and Matsima win silver with France!

They did better than the senior team… but came up short against the same opponent! Propelled into the final of the Games against La Roja, like the French senior team, beaten in the semi-finals of the Euro last June, the Bleuets of Maghnes Akliouche, Soungoutou Magassa and Chrislain Matsima did not improve on that. Despite the early opening score from former Monégasque Enzo Millot (1-0, 11'), the players of Thierry Henry gave in at the end of a suspensful match against Spain (3-5)).

And for good reason, the "little brothers" of the European Championship winners did not mess around, turning the match  around in the space of ten minutes. It was indeed the prodigy from FC Barcelona - who AS Monaco will face on Monday in a friendly match - Fermin Lopez, who would play the hero by first equalizing behind the French defense (1-1, 18'), before getting his double, lying in wait in the six-yard box (1-2, 25'), to score his 7th goal already in the competition!

Unfortunately, the Spanish will take advantage of this strong moment to double the lead with a gem of a direct free kick from Alex Baena (1-3, 28th). It was a tough blow for the Tricolores, who will nevertheless try everything to come back, notably with the entry into play of Maghnes Akliouche (52'). The new Monaco number 11 thus nearly offers a goal ball to Jean-Philippe Mateta (67'). But he would have his moment, as he gave hope to an entire nation by deflecting in a free kick from Michael Olise (2-3, 79').

Then the miracle would come when Mateta equalized on penalty in added time (3-3, 93'). France had made it to extra time, but Sergio Camello would give a definitive advantage to Spain with a double (100', 121'). After the bronze medal won by Eliesse Ben Seghir with Morocco the day before, Akliouche, Magassa and Matsima added their own with silver to close this beautiful Games campaign.

Our four Monegasques, trained atLa Diagonale, will therefore not imitate their glorious elders Dominique Bijotat (winner with France in 1984) and Victor Ikpeba (winner with Nigéria in 1996). But they will have carried theRouge et Blanchigh in this global competition. Four participants, four medallists!Daghe messieurs!🇲🇨

 Group A Matches

Wednesday, July 24 (9 p.m.): France 3-0 United States in Marseille
Saturday, July 27 (9 p.m.): France 1-0 Guinea in Nice
Tuesday, July 30 (7 p.m.): France 3-0 New Zealand in Marseille
Quarter-final

Friday, August 2 (9 p.m.): France 1-0 Argentina in Bordeaux
Semi-final

Monday, August 5 (9 p.m.): France 3-1 Egypt in Lyon
Final

Friday, August 9 (6 p.m.): France 3- 5 Spain in Paris
Photos: FFF/Philippe Lecœur/FEP/Icon Sport