Team USA bounced from knockout stage of 2024 Olympics with 4-0 quarterfinal loss to Morocco

The United States men’s soccer team has been eliminated at the Paris Olympics following a 4-0 loss to Morocco on Friday.

The US trailed 1-0 at the half, before the game got out of hand thanks to three second-half goals by Morocco.

Despite the loss, the U.S. still had a strong showing at the Olympics. The United States had not qualified for the Olympics since 2008 prior to this year.

The United States advanced through the group stage for the first time since 2000, before falling in the knockout round.

Soufiane Rahimi, PenIlias Akhomach, Achraf Hakimi and Mehdi Maouhoub each scored goals for Morocco, which had eight shots on goal compared to one for the United States.

Morocco also had 15 shot attempts compared to nine and eight corner kicks compared to three for the United States.

The Olympic Men’s Soccer Tournament is for players under 23 years of age. However, each country is allowed to have three players over the age requirement.

The only other time the United States and Morocco have played in the Olympics was in 1972. The US beat Guinea 3-0 on Tuesday in order to advance to the knockout stage of the Olympics.

With the win, Morocco advances to the semifinals.

Dabo Swinney discusses godson Tanner Tessmann playing for Team USA soccer at the Olympics

Dabo Swinney has been paying close attention to a different type of football as his Clemson team prepares for its season opener against Georgia.

Swinney’s godson Tanner Tessmann has been playing for Team USA soccer at the Olympics, and Swinney has been dialed in. He spoke about what it has been like watching Tessmann and the United States before the Tigers held their first practice of fall camp on Thursday.

“I think it’s been an unbelievable experience. And pretty cool, too,” Dabo Swinney said. “We hadn’t even qualified since maybe ‘08, … and now they’re in the knockout round. So man, I’m just happy for him and proud of how he’s led and all those guys.

“And then Dawson Zimmerman, my first punter, his brother is Walker Zimmerman, who’s on the team. Walker played at Furman. … So we’ve got a couple of Clemson connections on that soccer team. So we’re pulling for them and hopefully they can keep it rolling.”

Tanner Tessmann was once committed to Clemson to play both football and soccer, before beginning his pro soccer career instead.

Tessmann’s father P.J. is one of Swinney’s best friends, going all the way back to high school. Tanner’s best sport has always been football, but Swinney loved his potential as a placekicker.

“He obviously signed with us and was coming here. He was going to be Trevor Lawrence on the soccer team and he was going to be my first switch kicker,” Dabo Swinney said. “Whatever hash we were on, that was the foot he was going to kick with. The guy can kick it 60 yards left-footed and right-footed. He could play wideout. I mean he’s that type of athlete.”