[Summer Olympics] Argentina vs Morocco - Considering the squads of both teams, their attacking lines are notably strong.
The Argentine national team arrives at their third consecutive Olympics, having only missed the 2012 London Games in recent years. This is an incredible achievement, as only two teams from South America qualify for the Olympics, making the qualification process extremely difficult.
In the qualification for the 2024 Olympics, Argentina finished second, behind Paraguay. In the final round, Argentina played against their main rival, Brazil, and the outcome of this match determined the ticket to Paris. Fortunately for Argentine fans, Javier Mascherano's team won that match 1-0, leaving Brazil out of the Olympics.
Many expected Lionel Messi to participate in his second Olympic Games, but he chose to focus on playing for Inter Miami. However, Mascherano managed to bring in three very strong players over the age of 23. Manchester City forward Julián Álvarez, Benfica central defender Nicolás Otamendi, and Ajax goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, all of whom are reigning world champions, will play in the tournament. Another world champion in the squad is Botafogo's new signing Thiago Almada.
The Morocco U-23 national team triumphed at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in the summer of 2023, which secured their place at their eighth Olympic Games. They had missed the last two Olympics, last playing in the 2012 Games.
Morocco went unbeaten in the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, but the decisive matches were extremely tough. In the semifinals, Morocco defeated Mali in a penalty shootout, and in the final, they overcame Egypt in extra time. Before the Olympics, Morocco played several friendly matches, defeating the Dominican Republic (3-1) and the USA (1-0), but losing to Ukraine (0-1), Iraq (0-1), and Denmark (0-3).
Unlike most teams, Morocco managed to bring their country's main football star, PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi, to the Olympics. The tournament will also feature 35-year-old legendary goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi.
Prediction: Morocco +0.75
Argentina vs Morocco stream and TV listing
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