Morocco Ol. vs Iraq Ol. prediction: WORLD: Olympic Games betting tips on match 2024-07-29 15:00.
[p]As group stages come to a close, all eyes will be on the action in Group B where Morocco take on Iraq and Argentina tackle Ukraine, with all three teams deadlocked on three points! The first prize for any of these teams will be to win their final match and avoid a spider’s web of tiebreakers, which if needed, will be decided firstly by goal difference, then goals scored, fair-play points, and then a drawing of lots.[/p]
[p]For Morocco, a pair of dramatic endings has landed them in this sticky situation, as if the conclusion to their 2-1 win over Argentina wasn’t enough, they then went on to concede in the 98th minute to lose by the same scoreline to ten-man Ukraine last time out. Despite that heartache, they’re fancied by the bookies to get past Iraq here and advance to the knockout stages for the first time since the Munich games in 1972.[/p]
[p]That’ll give Tarik Sektioui’s side hope that a first-ever medal at the Olympics is a real possibility, which will add to a trophy cabinet that already features the 2023 Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations. Iraq will be out to stop them in their tracks, and they’re not only attempting to progress out the group stages at the Olympics for only the second time in their history, but also potentially avenge their 2-1 defeat to Morocco in the group stages of the games in Athens in 2004.[/p]
[p]Defying the odds here would be a massive achievement for the Lions of Babylon, whose participation in this year’s games was booked by coming third in the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup earlier this year. And considering none of Iraq Under-23’s last 14 matches have ended in a draw (W8, L6), expect to see a winner one way or another here. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Morocco will be hoping Amir Richardson can get them off to a good start, since five of his last six goals have served as the match opener. Iraq’s hopes arguably lie in the hands of one of their overage players, Aymen Hussein, who found the net in his last seven games for Iraq before scoring in both group games.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: None of Morocco’s last eight games at the Olympics have been decided by a margin of two or more goals.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Peter Stavrinou[/i][/p]