Preview: Argentina Beneath-23s vs. Morocco Beneath-23s – prediction, staff information, lineups

The Males’s Olympic Soccer Event on the Paris 2024 Video games kicks off on Wednesday afternoon when Argentina sq. off in opposition to Morocco for his or her opening Group B match at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne.

Argentina are striving to duplicate the success of the senior staff who’ve gained a World Cup and two Copa America titles during the last 4 years, whereas Morocco will endeavour to emulate the heroics of the first-team squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Match preview

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Argentina are gearing up for his or her tenth look on the Olympic Video games and will probably be aiming to enhance on their efforts at Tokyo 2020 the place they didn’t advance from the group stage after being pipped to a top-two end by Egypt by way of purpose distinction.

La Albiceleste are thought to be one of many favourites to triumph this time round in Paris and are managed by a confirmed winner in former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano, who gained gold as a participant at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, and has been in control of Argentina’s youth facet since 2021.

South American international locations have dominated the Males’s Olympic Soccer Event in recent times, successful 4 of the final 5 gold medals, together with two for Argentina and two for Brazil – the latter have gained the final two tournaments however didn’t qualify for Paris 2024, that means that Argentina and Paraguay are flying the flag for South America this time round.

Since ending second, behind Paraguay, within the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Event in mid-February, Argentina have taken half in two pleasant matches to arrange for the Paris Video games, starting with a thumping 5-0 victory over Petrus Flo, a staff made up of French gamers at present with out a membership.

Nevertheless, Argentina suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Guinea with a full-strength squad of their closing warm-up match on Saturday, not an excellent outcome forward of what may show to be a tough check in opposition to Morocco on Wednesday.

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The 2024 Paris Olympics will signify the eighth time that Morocco have taken half within the Males’s Soccer Event and the primary since they competed at London 2012 the place they didn’t progress from the group stage.

Morocco have certified for this 12 months’s match after successful the 2023 Beneath-23 Africa Cup of Nations underneath former boss Issame Charai, who was ‘bizarrely’ relieved of his duties in March after shedding three friendlies out of 5 on the backend of 2023 and later changed by present head coach Tarik Sektioui, previously of Porto in his enjoying days.

Sektioui has taken over a Morocco facet who’re at present ranked as fourth favourites with the bookmakers’ to assert a gold medal in Paris; they are going to be aiming to safe no less than a top-two end in Group B and advance past the primary section for the primary time for the reason that 1972 Olympics once they reached the second spherical in Munich.

The Atlas Lions have taken half in three friendlies for the reason that arrival of Sektioui, most not too long ago enjoying out a 2-2 draw with Belgium in June after beforehand beating Wales 2-0 and shedding 1-0 to Ukraine in Could.

Argentina Beneath-23s pleasant kind:

Crew Information

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Argentina’s 18-man squad consists of 4 2022 World Cup winners in Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Otamendi, Geronimo Rulli and Thiago Almada – the previous three had been additionally a part of the senior squad that triumphed on the 2024 Copa America earlier this month.

Thirty-six-year-old Otamendi – one among three gamers in Mascherano’s squad over the age of 23 – will present the expertise in a again 4 set to include Gonzalo Lujan, Marco Di Cesare and Bruno Amione.

Santiago Hezze, who gained the Europa Convention League with Olympiacos final season, may hyperlink arms with Almada and both Cristian Medina or Ezequiel Fernandez in centre-midfield, whereas Alvarez could possibly be supported in assault by Kevin Zenon and Giuliano Simeone.

As for Morocco, each member of Sektioui has taken half in coaching this week aside from Bologna’s Oussama El Azzouzi, who is anticipated to hyperlink up together with his teammates within the coming days.

The standout identify in Morocco’s squad is Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi, who is anticipated to play at right-back, whereas Saint-Etienne’s Benjamin Bouchouari, Villarreal’s Ilias Akhomach and Actual Betis’ Abde Ezzalzouli are additionally set to function within the first XI.

Argentina Beneath-23s doable beginning lineup:
Rulli; Lujan, Di Cesare, Otamendi, Amione; Almada, Hezze, Medina; Zenon, Alvarez, Simeone

Morocco Beneath-23s doable beginning lineup:
Mohamedi; Hakimi, El Wafi, Boukamir, Nakach; Targhalline, Bouchouari, Richardson; Akhomach, Rahimi, Ezzalzouli

We are saying: Argentina Beneath-23s 2-1 Morocco Beneath-23s

These two nations would be the favourites to safe a top-two end in Group B, forward of Iraq and Ukraine, and success for both facet in Wednesday’s fixture would put them within the driving seat to complete on the summit.

Argentina can’t take Morocco frivolously in what may show to be a closely-fought contest, however we count on the South People to prevail by a slim scoreline.

For information evaluation of the almost definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.

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