Argentina U23s vs. Morocco U23s (Wednesday, 2.00pm)
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The Men's Olympic Football Tournament at the Paris 2024 Games kicks off on Wednesday afternoon when Argentina square off against Morocco for their opening Group B match at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne.
Argentina are striving to replicate the success of the senior team who have won a World Cup and two Copa America titles over the last four years, while Morocco will endeavour to emulate the heroics of the first-team squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
We say: Argentina Under-23s 2-1 Morocco Under-23s
These two nations will be the favourites to secure a top-two finish in Group B, ahead of Iraq and Ukraine, and success for either side in Wednesday's fixture would put them in the driving seat to finish at the summit.
Argentina cannot take Morocco lightly in what could prove to be a closely-fought contest, but we expect the South Americans to prevail by a narrow scoreline.
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Uzbekistan U23s vs. Spain U23s (Wednesday, 2.00pm)
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Ultimately aiming to go one better than three years ago in Japan, Spain Under-23s meet Uzbekistan Under-23s in their first game at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Wednesday.
Getting their campaigns under way at Parc des Princes, both nations are competing to progress from Group C, which also features Egypt and the Dominican Republic.
We say: Uzbekistan Under-23s 1-2 Spain Under-23s
Although Uzbekistan's squad have been together for a while now, several Spanish stars have come through a successful youth system at the same time and should have a good understanding.
La Rojita are justifiably among the competition favourites, but they may be made to work hard for an opening victory in Paris.
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Egypt U23s vs. Dominican Republic U23s (Wednesday, 4.00pm)
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Kicking off their campaigns at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Wednesday evening, Egypt Under-23s and Dominican Republic Under-23s go head-to-head at Stade de la Beaujoire.
With Group C also featuring Spain and Uzbekistan, neither side can afford to lose their opening fixture in Nantes.
We say: Egypt Under-23s 2-0 Dominican Republic Under-23s
Egypt have put together a positive run of results this year and should contend for a top-two place in Group C, while the Dominican Republic will consider every goal or point to be a bonus.
Expect the Pharaohs to reign supreme in Nantes, before facing tougher tests against Uzbekistan and Spain.
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Guinea U23s vs. N.Zealand U23s (Wednesday, 4.00pm)
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Guinea and New Zealand have the honour of kicking off Group A of the men's football tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics when they clash at the Allianz Riviera in Nice on Wednesday.
The African nation are competing at their first Games since the 1968 edition, while New Zealand were present at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, finishing in sixth place.
We say: Guinea U23s 1-1 New Zealand Under-23s
As merciless as New Zealand were during their qualification period, with no disrespect to Fiji or Vanuatu, Guinea are made of much tougher stuff.
On this occasion, we just cannot pick a clear winner and expect the two knockout hopefuls to shake hands on a point apiece, not an awful start for either manager.
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Japan U23s vs. Paraguay U23s (Wednesday, 6.00pm)
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Three years on from hosting the Covid-delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Japan kick-start their campaign in the Men's Olympic Football Tournament at the Paris 2024 Games with a group-stage fixture against Paraguay on Wednesday evening.
Getting their campaigns under way at Stade de Bordeaux, both nations are competing to advance from Group D, which also includes Mali and Israel.
We say: Japan Under-23s 1-1 Paraguay Under-23s
Paraguay possess the potential to be a dark horse at the Paris Games, but they arguably face their toughest test in Group D on matchday one in the form of Japan, who will also fancy their chances of claiming victory from Wednesday's contest.
With little to separate these two nations, a closely-fought battle could be in store in Bordeaux, leading us to predict that the spoils will be shared on this occasion.
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Iraq U23s vs. Ukraine U23s (Wednesday, 6.00pm)
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Iraq and Ukraine do battle at Stade de Lyon in their opening Group B fixture of the Men's Olympic Football Tournament at the Paris 2024 Games on Wednesday.
These two nations are joined in their group by both Argentina and Morocco, who are considered the favourites to progress to the knockout rounds.
We say: Iraq Under-23s 1-2 Ukraine Under-23s
There is little to separate these two nations seeking to make a positive start on matchday one in their quest to secure a top-two finish in Group B. Both sides have the potential to cause each other problems in the final third, but we are backing Ukraine to edge this contest in Lyon.
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France U23s vs. USA U23s (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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A potential battle for Group A supremacy will commence on Wednesday, as France and the USA begin their Paris 2024 Olympics campaigns in the men's football tournament.
The Games hosts welcome their transatlantic counterparts to the Orange Velodrome in Marseille, while Guinea and New Zealand also seek to upset the Olympic apple cart.
We say: France Under-23s 2-0 USA Under-23s
A France and USA one-two may very well come to fruition in Group A further down the line, but there should only be one clear winner in Wednesday's opening scrap.
While Henry is blessed with clinical and well-versed attackers, Les Bleus possess highly-rated young stars in all thirds of the field and should live up to the pre-tournament hype in Marseille.
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Mali Under-23s vs. Israel U23s (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Mali square off against Israel in their opening group-stage match of the Men's Olympic Football Tournament at the Paris 2024 Games on Wednesday evening.
Both nations get their campaigns under way at the Parc des Princes and are competing to advance from Group D, which also includes Japan and Paraguay.
We say: Mali Under-23s 2-1 Israel Under-23s
There is little to separate these two teams who enter Wednesday's contest in buoyant mood after winning their final warm-up matches, but we believe that Mali may just have the edge and should do enough to claim a slender victory.
