These two really don’t get on
Fans are labelling France v Argentina ‘the biggest rivalry in sport’ after the latest instalment of heated scenes came in the Olympic football.
The crunch match between the two nations happened last night in a showdown that quite literally had it all.
France and Argentina have been caught in a huge racism row although their rivalry stems back much further beyond the recent eruption of events.
Right from the off, the game got underway in distasteful fashion as the thousands of French fans in the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux booed the Argentinian national anthem as they have done throughout the tournament.
Argentina’s national anthem was booed ahead of their #Paris2024 quarter-final meeting with France.
The boos came after a number of Argentina players were filmed singing a derogatory song about France’s black players after the Copa America final.#BBCOlympics #Olympics pic.twitter.com/OxqGC8Zjrv
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) August 2, 2024
Following a tense 90 minutes, France ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a Jean-Phillipe Mateta header to advance to the semi-finals of the event and instantly a mass brawl ensued as players and coaches alike confronted each other on the pitch.
The bust up ended with just one player being sent-off, France’s Enzo Millot of Stuttgart, prompting an angry response from manager Thierry Henry.
He said: “I couldn’t control what happened. I went to greet the coach and when I turned around, what happened, happened. We won, but I didn’t like what happened at the end with my player.”
If all this drama was not enough, after things had calmed down, the French players went to rub it into the faces of the Argentinian fans, celebrating in front of them in a corner of the stadium.
❌🇨🇵Los jugadores de Francia festejando frente a la tribuna donde había un puñado de hinchas argentinos🇦🇷. pic.twitter.com/DdqUEzTi65
— Deportes 24 – Argentina (@deportes24ar) August 2, 2024
This led to Argentina’s captain and former Manchester City player Nicolas Otamendi hitting back at the French players.
He said: “I am very angry that they went to where the family members were to celebrate in their face.”
The taunting from French fans has been consistent throughout these Olympics, booing the national anthem every time the Argentinian football team has played.
Fans took to X in the aftermath of the game calling the rivalry one of the biggest in sport at the moment.
One user said: “Oh my days, France vs Argentina might be the biggest international rivalry in all of sport at the moment. Pure, pure hatred between the nations.”
Another wrote: “Beautiful theatre. May it continue.”
One person said: “Argentina is not classy when they win they are even uglier when they loose.”
The discontent towards Argentina exploded last month after the South American nation ran out victorious in their continental cup, the Copa America.
It was not the victory that upset French fans, but the racist song the Argentinian players were filmed singing while celebrating their victory.
The chant targeted French players of African descent, insulting their parents, using a slur towards transgender people and playing on African stereotypes.
The players were live streamed singing the song, with Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea the most notable participant who has had to apologise for his actions, causing animosity in the Chelsea dressing room.
Despite the Argentinian insults towards the French, the rivalry has been simmering for some time now before this recent eruption.
It all started at the 2018 World Cup in Russia when a Benjamin Pavard beauty helped to knock out Argentina in a 4-3 thriller in the round of 16 sending France on their way to eventual World Cup glory.
Argentina got their revenge at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, however, after they beat France in a dramatic World Cup final on penalties to win football’s most prestigious trophy.
This laid the foundations for a heated rivalry while Olympic match ups, such as France beating Argentina in the quarter-finals of the rugby sevens on their way to Olympic gold, have only exasperated things.
The French squad features plenty of familiar names such a Jean-Phillipe Mateta, Michael Olise and Alexandre Lacazette.
France will play in semi-finals of the Olympic football event against Egypt on 5 August.
