Guinea vs New Zealand Preview & Prediction | Paris 2024 Olympics | Men’s Football | Group Stage
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Coached by the Guinean national team manager, Kaba Diawara, Guinea will fancy their chances of making the knockout stages but a lot will ride on this opening game against a similar strength side in Darren Bazeley’s New Zealand.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Wednesday 24th July, 2024, UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 8:00am
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
GUINEA PREVIEW: STRONG CORE
With Kaba Diawara at the helm, it is a strong core that the Guineans possess throughout their squad as they prepare for this opener with New Zealand. They are without Aguibou Camara as Ludogorets Razgrad, who he has just signed for, refused to release him for the tournament, but still do possess real pedigree, especially in midfield.
That midfield is where all three of their overage players have been selected with former Liverpool man Naby Keita being their captain alongside Le Havre midfielder Abdoulaye Toure and Amadou Diawara, of Anderlecht. There is hope in attacking positions, too, with Ilaix Moriba supporting Ousmane Camara, Algassime Bah and Aliou Balde.
NEW ZEALAND PREVIEW: GROWING GENERATION
With 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification pretty much a certainty due to the expanded competition and New Zealand’s senior side coming off the back of easing to another OFC Nations Cup, the All Whites have a great chance to continue with a developing core and utilise some of the younger players coming through Darren Bazeley’s squad.
Alex Paulsen, who has just joined AFC Bournemouth, is among a group of players including Tyler Bindon, Matthew Garbett, Joe Bell Ben Waine and Sarpeet Singhn and Kees Sims plying their trade in Europe. Bell and Singh are two of their overage players alongside Minnesota United defender Michael Boxall.
GUINEA VS NEW ZEALAND PREDICTION
The last time New Zealand played in a world football tournament was back in the last Olympics when they finished above Romania and Honduras before only losing to Japan on penalties in the quarter-finals. They also showed themselves to be very stubborn on the global stage back at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Guinea, on the other hand, are looking to build on their CAF Africa Cup of Nations performance from earlier this year when they reached the quarter-finals. These appear two sides with qualities in both defence and midfield but perhaps quite significant limitations in attack so a low-scoring opener is to be expected.
GUINEA VS NEW ZEALAND TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
