Paraguay Ol. vs Mali Ol. prediction: WORLD: Olympic Games betting tips on match 2024-07-29 19:00.
[p]After a stunning 4-2 win over Israel, Paraguay have their fate in their own hands heading into the final group game. Despite taking the lead in both halves against Israel, La Albirroja were made to wait until second-half stoppage time before hitting a two-goal flurry to seal the three points. A draw would be enough to secure their place above Mali and reach the quarter-finals, although only a victory guarantees progression after the South Americans were thrashed 5-0 by Japan on matchday one. [/p]
[p]Qualification for the last eight is the expectation at this stage for Paraguay, who headed into this tournament having picked up a silver medal during their previous Olympics at Athens 2004 when a young Carlos Tevez denied them the gold. There could be jewels in this Paraguayan crop, with Brighton & Hove Albion man Julio Enciso’s strike last time out only raising the hype around himself while putting to bed a rotten seven-game run of form for his nation’s U23 side (D1, L6). [/p]
[p]While Paraguay have more than one avenue of qualification, the equation is simple for Mali: win here in Paris or face elimination. Although it wouldn’t have made any difference to their current predicament, the Eagles painfully missed a last-gasp penalty in their 1-0 defeat to Japan on matchday two, meaning that they’ve managed to score just once at the tournament across two games which have featured only three goals between them. [/p]
[p]Mali head coach Alou Badara Diallo conceded that “luck wasn’t on our side” and played down the potential morale implications of that missed penalty. The excitement levels may have to rise slightly if the West Africans are to cause a shock, as while they had remained unbeaten in 2024 prior to the Japan loss, they are yet to keep a clean sheet in any game this year (W2, D2, L1). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Paraguay captain and Inter Miami regular Diego Gómez picked up Flashscore’s highest rating, a stunning 9.3, after assisting two of their four goals against Israel. One hope for Mali could be Stade Reims’ Thiemoko Diarra, who is one of five squad members plying their trade in France and assisted their only goal of the tournament so far. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: During the first two matchdays, nine of the tournament-high 11 goals scored in Paraguay’s games came after half-time. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]