Argentina vs Iraq Preview & Prediction | Paris 2024 Olympics | Men’s Football | Group Stage
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It was an extremely controversial start to Argentina’s Olympic campaign against Morocco as they eventually suffered a 2-1 defeat a few hours after thinking they had drawn. Iraq, on the other hand, have given themselves a massive chance to qualify after pulling off a surprise victory over Ukraine.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 27th July, 2024, UK – 2:00pm / US ET – 9:00am / US PT – 6:00am
HOW TO WATCH THE PARIS OLYMPICS ON TV: UK – BBC is the main broadcaster while some event will be televised on Eurosport / US – NBC is the main broadcaster while some events will be shown on NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network and Telemundo
HOW TO WATCH THE PARIS OLYMPICS ONLINE: UK – BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website & Eurosport Player / US – Events can be streamed on the relevant streaming platforms of NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network and Telemundo
ARGENTINA PREVIEW: CONTROVERSY AND DRAMA
Argentina’s Olympic football team manager Javier Mascherano described the events of their opener with Morocco as a ‘circus’. After going 2-0 down, the Argentines fought back and scored what appeared to be an equalising goal in the 16th minute of added time at the end of the game.
With Moroccan players and supporters outraged, fans raided the pitch and the game was suspended with it being generally believed to have been full-time. However, approaching three hours after that, the players re-entered the field in front of empty stands and played an extra three minutes but only after the aforementioned ‘equaliser’ was chalked off for offside by VAR.
IRAQ PREVIEW: RELIANT ON THEIR BIG GUNS
Iraqi football has generally improved in recent years and they showed that at the AFC Asian Cup earlier this year with the aim now being to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Their improvement, though, does not mean their victory over Ukraine was not a surprise.
One of the key reasons behind their recent improvement would be key striker Aymen Hussein. After Valentyn Rubchynskyi had put Ukraine ahead early in the second-half, Hussein scored an equalising penalty before the game was then won by Ali Jasim in the 75th minute.
ARGENTINA VS IRAQ PREDICTION
This is now a massive game. Argentina could be on the verge of elimination because a defeat to Iraq and a Moroccan victory over Ukraine would knock them out. The Argentine’s, who have some real quality sprinkled through their side, will be out to set the record straight in the aftermath of their controversial shock loss the other day. Iraq are an enterprising side and may well qualify but their date with destiny may have to wait until they face Morocco because it seems unlikely they can stop what will be a fired up Argentinian team.
ARGENTINA VS IRAQ TIP: ARGENTINA TO WIN
