Attacks on the field and jeers over the Israeli anthem mar

Highlights and scores from the first day of the Paris Olympics. The Argentina-Morocco soccer match was halted for nearly two hours due to pitch interference, as Israel’s national anthem was played before the clash with Mali in Paris.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games opened with a surprise 2-1 victory for the Moroccan men’s soccer team against Pan American champions Argentina in Saint-Etienne, in a chaotic match that was halted for nearly two hours after several individuals stormed the pitch.

Another stunning result came from Bordeaux, where Japan thrashed Paraguay 5-0, while France delighted their home crowd with a comfortable 3-0 victory over the USA.

The hosts had a less than stellar start to the men’s rugby sevens tournament as they beat Uruguay 19-12 but drew 12-12 with the USA.

Tokyo 2020 gold medalists Fiji also defeated the USA 38-12 and Uruguay 40-12, while Ireland defeated world champions South Africa 10-5, who were also beaten 17-5 by New Zealand.

Full football and rugby results below.

Before the soccer match with Mali, Israel’s national anthem is played loudly

Israel’s national anthem was played loudly before the start of the first Olympic match against Mali at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on Wednesday.

The match began with a massive security presence outside the stadium amid an increasingly tense international climate that highlighted France’s security efforts.

The Israeli team arrived under a heavy police escort, with bikers in front and dozens of riot police vans behind.

Although the atmosphere outside the field was calmer, armed police patrolled the Parc des Princes stadium.

Malian fans sang proudly as their national anthem was played first. When Israel’s national anthem was played, whistles were immediately heard. Afterward, the stadium’s speaker system grew noticeably louder as it played the anthems, in what appeared to be an attempt to quell the unrest.

As soon as the match started, the Israeli players were booed every time they touched the ball. Security forces intervened in what appeared to be a violent dispute between some supporters.

Several supporters in Mali raised Palestinian flags.

Morocco surprised Pan American champions Argentina after nearly two hours of stoppage time

Morocco claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Argentina at the start of the men’s Olympic football tournament on Wednesday – but not before angry fans stormed the pitch to protest what looked like an equalizer in the 16th minute of extra time.

Objects were thrown onto the pitch and security forces had to control supporters, causing the match in Saint-Etienne to be stopped for almost two hours and the public to leave the stadium.

The goal was eventually ruled offside shortly before the restart, much to the delight of the Moroccan players as the final minutes ticked away.

The tournament got off to a chaotic and dramatic start after Argentina, the 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold medalists and favorites in France, fell behind 2-0 to goals from Soufiane Rahimi.

Giuliano Simeone scored in the 68th minute and Medina equalized with a close-range header before Argentina bombarded Moroccan goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui with shots.

This angered the Moroccan fans, who stormed the pitch and others threw rubbish, and the match was officially abandoned.

Rahimi put Morocco ahead in added time, then converted a penalty in the 49th minute that proved decisive against an Argentina team that included four members of the squad that won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Host nation France has started the football season well

Breathtaking goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Michael Olise gave France a 3-0 win over the USA. Loïc Bade added a third goal in Marseille with a late header to seal a victory that looked uncertain until former Arsenal striker Lacazette scored with a long-range strike in the 61st minute.

The hosts had to be lucky against the American team, who saw Djordje Mihaylovic’s shot hit the post – 0:0. Lacazette’s goal came almost immediately afterwards.

Results of the first day of the Paris Olympics

Men’s football, group stage

  • Argentina 1-2 Morocco
  • Uzbekistan 1-2 Spain
  • Guinea-New Zealand 1-2
  • Egypt 0:0 Dominican Republic
  • Iraq 2-1 Ukraine
  • Japan 5-0 Paraguay
  • France 3-0 USA
  • Mali 1-1 Israel

Rugby sevens, men’s group

  • Australia 21-14 Samoa
  • Argentina 31-12 Kenya
  • France 12-12 USA
  • Fiji 40-12 Uruguay
  • Ireland 10-5 South Africa
  • New Zealand 40-12 Japan
  • Australia 21-17 Kenya
  • Argentina 28-12 Samoa
  • France 19-12 Uruguay
  • Fiji 38-12 USA
  • Ireland 40-5 Japan
  • New Zealand 17-5 South Africa

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