Paris 2024: Football Ferns fall to Canada, All Blacks Sevens out of medal contention

The footballers and sevens stars continue to take centre stage for Kiwi sports fans on Friday, as we draw ever closer to Saturday's official opening ceremony.

With a quarter-final berth cemented after wins over South Africa and Japan, the NZ men will round out pool play against Ireland, before returning later in the day for their knockout match against an opponent yet to be determined.

The Football Ferns will also take the pitch for their opener against Canada, a contest somewhat overshadowed by the drone-gate spying saga that's resulted in two of the defending champions' officials being sent home, with further calls for the entire team to follow.

Michaela Foster has been called into the NZ squad as a replacement for veteran Ali Riley, who's been forced to withdraw due to injury.

Friday, July 26 (NZ time)

2.30am: Rugby sevens - Men’s pool match v Ireland

3am: Football - Football Ferns v Canada, group game

7am-8am: Rugby sevens - Men’s quarter-final v South Africa

RESULTS

FOOTBALL:
Canada 2 (Cloe Lacasse 45+5’, Evelyne Viens 79’) Football Ferns 1 (Mackenzie Barry 13’). Half-time: 1-1.

RUGBY SEVENS:
All Blacks Sevens 14 (Leroy Carter, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black; Akuila Rokoliso con, Andrew Knewstubb con) Ireland 12 (Zac Ward, Jordan Conroy; Mark Roche con).

Quarter-final: South Africa 14 (Tristan Leyds, Selvyn Davids; Leyds con 2) All Blacks Sevens 7 (Moses Leo; Knewstubb con).

October last year, South Africa broke Kiwi hearts with a hardfought 12-11 over the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France. Fast forward to July and they've done it again, this time in the seven-a-side format.

The Blitzboks stunned the All Blacks Sevens in Friday morning's (NZT) quarter-final with an incredible display of determined goal-line defence to deny New Zealand a shot at an Olympic gold medal, a prize that still alludes NZ rugby in the men's competition.

The disappointment plain to see when the team spoke with Sky Sport after their 14-7 defeat.

"A lot of those boys are in tears," Scott Curry replied when asked about the defeat.

"To give everything they have for four years, to get knocked out in the quarterfinal is tough. But I guess that's sevens. If you're one per cent off on your day, you get beaten, and we were today.

"South Africa, they defended so well. They scrambled back every time we had a half break and shut down a lot of opportunities. We just weren't good enough to finish."

NZ will face Argentina in a fifth place semi-final for fifth place at 12.30am Sunday (NZT), if they win they will play either Ireland or USA to determine that position.

The Blitzboks will go up against hosts France in the first medal semi-final, while defending gold medalists Fiji play Australia after they shutout USA 18-0 in their quarter-final.

The Black Ferns Sevens begin their campaign on Day 2 of the Olympics with their sights set on defending the gold medal from Tokyo 2020.

Photo: Iain McGregor, Photosport.

PODCASTS

New Zealand is being represented by 195 athletes across 23 sports at the Olympic Games. The opening ceremony is set to begin 5.30am NZT Saturday - considering how spectacular the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony was at the same venue last year, expect great things from a celebration that embraces culture and sport together.

Track cyclist Aaron Gate and sailing veteran Jo Aleh were named as New Zealand's flagbearers. Representing NZ in his fourth Olympics, Gate spoke with SENZ's Scotty & Izzy today about the honour that has been bestowed upon him:

Sky Sport's Kimberlee Downs also reported into Scotty & Izzy for a recap of the drama surrounding Canada Soccer and the Football Ferns, plus reaction of the flagbearer selections live from Paris: