The United States men’s soccer team returned to the Olympics after a 16-year absence and opened with a 3-0 loss to host France in group play in Marseille.
France controlled possession for the first half and outshot the Americans 8-3. But the U.S. looked calm, cool and composed, beating back a physical French team that was whistled for seven fouls. At halftime, it was 0-0.
In Olympic men’s soccer, roster restrictions require nearly all players to be under 23 years old. Most of the U.S. squad, coached by Marko Mitrovic, has previously played in Major League Soccer or an MLS academy club. Walker Zimmerman, age 31, is one of a trio of “overage” players. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he started three times and appeared in all four U.S. matches.
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