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Argentina needs a win against Iraq on Saturday to get back on track in Olympic men’s football after a game controversial opening defeat against Morocco. Javier Mascherano called the 2-1 defeat to the Atlas Lions a ‘circus’, with a win now required for the Albiceleste in Group B. Meanwhile, Iraq took maximum points against Ukraine to move ahead of the Moroccans.
It was a dramatic final to Argentina’s opening match and it has left the gold medal favorites in a difficult position ahead of this match. Although they triumphed in Athens and Beijing, they also went home early in Brazil and Tokyo, failing to even qualify for London in 2012. Mascherano now needs to get his players to focus and put their disappointing start to rest with little room for error.
Radhi Shenaishil’s men can now advance with a point and with three points they reach the last eight with a match to spare. Making it out of the group would be a first since 2004 when they won bronze, although they were also unbeaten in 2016 with three draws. Aymen Hussein and Ali Jasim Elaibi did the damage by fighting back to unexpectedly beat Ukraine 2-1, completely changing the face of Group B.
Here are our storylines, how to watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Saturday July 27 | Time: 9am ET
- Place: Groupama Stadium – Lyon, France
- Watch: Pauw Premium, Universo or Fubo (try for free)
- Chances: Argentina -350; Sign +400; Iraq +750
Group B
With Iraq and Morocco leading the way, Argentina and Ukraine both need victories to recover from their bad starts. There is a scenario where all teams would have three points after two games, which would make for an interesting final day. However, no one had the Albiceleste willing to go home so early and potentially leave the Paris Games before their final group match.
Team news
Argentina: Giuliano Simeone could be in line to start after his cameo and goal against Morocco, while Mascherano will have to see more of Julian Alvarez as his future continues to be speculated. A convincing attacking performance is required so that Thiago Almada can be pushed a little further forward to help create more chances.
Possible Argentina XI: Rulli; Garcia, Di Cesare, Otamendi, Soler; Simeone, Medina, Hezze, Almada; Beltran, Alvarez.
Iraq: Aymen Hussein will be an outspoken man after his goal against Ukraine and the 28-year-old will be a challenge for Argentina. Shenaishil will likely remain loyal to Karrar Mohammed and Ibrahim Bayesh in midfield, as well as a stacked back line that will look to thwart the South Americans in attack.
Possible Iraq XI: Hassan; Saadon, Ojaimi, Tahseen, Reeshawee; Bayesh, K. Ali; H. Ali, Mohammed, Amyn; Hussein.
Prediction
While this could be a tight one, Mascherano’s Argentina were expected to ultimately come out on top thanks to their superior star quality. Even three points from two games is likely to be above expectations for the Iraqis ahead of their final Group B match at the Paris Olympics. Choose: Argentina 2, Iraq 1.