Argentina aims to bounce back from their opening day chaotic defeat to Morocco in the second Group B game against Iraq in the Olympics 2024.
AR-U23 vs IRQ-U23 Match Details
Date: Saturday, 27 July 2024
Time: 15:00 (CET), 18:30 (IST)
Venue: Stade de Lyon, Lyon
AR-U23 vs IRQ-U23 Match Preview
An unforeseen drama unfolded in St Etienne after Giuliano Simeone scored at the death of the 16 minutes added time, trailing 2-1, as infuriated Morocco fans stormed the pitch causing a nearly two-hour suspension of the match. After the game resumed because the referee did not blow the final whistle while taking players off the pitch during the fiasco, Argentina’s equaliser was ruled out for offside leading to more frustration for players. Head coach Javier Mascherano described the event as a ‘circus’ but he has no excuses for letting the African side register a two-goal lead with a brace from Soufiane Rahimi deeming Simeone’s goal off the substitute bench in the 68th minute as mere consolation. The two-time Gold medalist has seen his side suffer early exit in the previous two Olympics editions, knowing fully that another defeat will seal the same faith again. He hopes that his boys will not allow the opening day events to enter their heads as they look to open their account against Iraq.
Unlike Argentina, Iraq made a comeback against Ukraine after going down in the 53rd minute. Ayman Hussein scored the equaliser from the spot four minutes later before impact-sub Ali Jasim snatched the winner in the 75th minute to put his nation almost on the brink of knockout qualification. A draw will be enough for Radhi Shenaishil's boys to make it out of the group stage for the first time since 2004. The Lions of Babylon won the Bronze medal in that edition which remains their best showing so far in the Olympics. Before dreaming about the same, Iraq will have to pass the challenge Argentina team who are rattled but remain strong on paper. While they had a positive start carrying less pressure than the opposition for the second group game, work needs to be done to ensure a repeat of their last participation in 2016 does not happen. Iraq exited from the group stage back then in Rio which will be catastrophic from such an advantageous position.
AR-U23 vs IRQ-U23 Predicted Lineups
Argentina U23
Rulli; Garcia, Di Cesare, Otamendi, Soler; Almada, Fernandez, Medina, Simeone; Echeverri; Alvarez
Iraq U23
Hassan; Saadon, Amer, Tahseen, Maknazi, Hussein; Jasim, Bayesh, Amyn, Al-Mukhtar; Hussein
AR-U23 vs IRQ-U23 Dream11 Match Prediction
With elimination looming large, Argentina might get the source of motivation to secure a win against Iraq. It will not be straightforward so we predict a 2-1 victory for La Seleccion.
AR-U23 vs IRQ-U23 Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Julian Alvarez
Vice-captain Picks: Giuliano Simeone, Ali Jasim, Thiago Almada
AR-U23 vs IRQ-U23 Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Hassan (Cr - 7)
DEF: Saadoun (8.5), Otamendi (Cr - 9), Di Cesare (Cr - 8.5)
MID: Jasim (Cr - 8.5), Fernandez (Cr - 9), Echeverri (Cr - 8), Almada (Cr - 7.5)
FW: Alvarez (Cr - 9), Hussein (Cr - 9), Simeone (Cr - 7.5)
Vice-captain: Giuliano Simeone
Captain: Julian Alvarez
