Birmingham native Tanner Tessmann served as the team captain for the United States’ opening game in men’s soccer at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
Although the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics isn’t until Friday, competition started on Wednesday in men’s soccer and rugby sevens.
Tessmann started in midfield against France on Wednesday as he served as the captain for the U.S. team for the fifth time in its past seven matches. The host team posted a 3-0 victory over the United States in a Group A match at Stade de Marseille in Marseille, France.
The match was tied 0-0 at halftime, but in an eight-minute span in the second half, French forwards Michael Olise and Alexandre Lacazette each scored a goal on an assist from the other.
A product of the Birmingham United Soccer Association, Tessmann played the full 90 minutes for the United States, which had never faced France in the Olympics before Wednesday.
Wednesday’s match was the first for the United States men’s team in the Olympics since a 2-1 loss to Nigeria in the group stage at Beijing in 2008. The program had been off the Olympic pitch for 5,824 days. Consequently, Wednesday’s match marked the Olympic debut for all 11 of the U.S. starters.
The United States plays New Zealand at noon CDT Saturday at Stade de Marseille in its next match. New Zealand opened its Group A schedule by defeating Guinea 2-1 on Wednesday.
The Paris Olympics schedule continues Thursday with more rugby sevens and the start of competition in archery, handball and women’s soccer.
Nigeria faces Brazil at noon Thursday in a women’s soccer match. Nicole Payne and Toni Payne from Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham play for Nigeria.
Stories by Mark Inabinett
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at@AMarkG1.