A place in the knockout stage of the Paris 2024 Olympics will be on the line when Morocco and Iraq go head to head in Group B on Tuesday.
With all four nations in the group level on three points after the first two matches, we anticipate a thrilling contest as both teams look to get one over the other and secure a last-eight spot.
Match preview
Morocco were denied a place in the knockout stages as they suffered a 2-1 defeat against 10-man Ukraine when the sides squared off at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Saturday.
Despite seeing over 65% of the ball possession and being in the ascendancy for most of the game, the Atlas Lions were left spitting feathers at full time as Igor Krasnopir struck in the eighth minute of stoppage time to hand Ukraine a last-gasp victory.
This followed their controversial 2-1 win over Argentina in the Group B curtain-raiser on Wednesday when 28-year-old forward Soufiane Rahimi scored in either half to condemn La Albiceleste to an opening-day defeat.
Making a first Olympics football appearance in 12 years, Tarik Sektioui's men will be looking to surpass their performance in 2012, when they suffered a group-stage exit after losing once and claiming two draws to finish third in Group D with two points from a possible nine.
While their involvement in France marks Morocco's fifth appearance at the Olympics, they are yet to make it past the group stages, a run they could bring to an end with all three points on Tuesday.
Like their opponents, Iraq were sent back down to earth on Saturday afternoon as they suffered a 3-1 defeat against a rampant Argentine side when the nations met at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.
After falling behind to Thiago Almada's 14th-minute opener, Aymen Hussein netted on the stroke of half time to draw the game level, but Luciano Gondou and Exequiel Fernandez scored second-half goals to hand Argentina all three points.
Prior to that, Radhi Shenaishil's men had to dig deep in their opening game as they fought back from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory over Ukraine thanks to goals from Hussein and Ali Jasim.
Having failed to reach Japan back in 2020, Iraq are making their first Olympics football appearance since 2016, when they were sent packing in the group stages after picking up three points from their three games in Group A.
The Lions of Mesopotamia's best campaign at the Games came in 2004, when they finished as Group D winners with six points from a possible nine before picking up a 1-0 victory over Australia in the quarter-finals.
However, their fairytale run came to an end in the semis, where they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of eventual runners-up Paraguay on August 24, three days before losing 1-0 against Italy in the bronze medal match.
Team News
Rahimi has been a standout performer for Morocco at the Olympics and the Al-Ain striker, who has scored each of their three goals in France, will be one to keep an eye on.
He should be joined in the Atlas Lions' front three by Real Betis forward Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, and AS Monaco youngster Eliesse Ben Seghir, who netted two goals in 13 Ligue 1 appearances last season
Zakaria El Ounahi and Paris Saint-Germain man Achraf Hakimi should be handed a third consecutive start while Mehdi Boukamir and Oussama El Azzouzi should form the centre-back pairing.
As for Iraq, Karrar Mohammed Ali was forced off injured late in the game against Argentina and the 23-year-old midfielder is a doubt for Tuesday's game.
Should he fail to shake off the injury, Karrar Saad will push for his first start at the Olympics, having made short cameos in the first two games, and the 23-year-old could team up with Ibrahim Bayesh and Como man Jasim at the centre of the park.
With his strike against Argentina, Hussein has now found the back of the net in each of Iraq's two games in France and the 28-year-old should spearhead their attack once again.
Morocco possible starting lineup:
Mohamedi; El Ouahdi, Boukamir, Azzouzi, Hakimi; Targhalline, Richardson, El Khannouss; Ezzalzouli, Seghir, Rahimi
Iraq possible starting lineup:
Hassan; Al-Reeshawee, Tahseen, Ojaimi, Saadon; Saad, Bayesh, Jasim; Amyn, Mohammed, Hussein
We say: Morocco 2-1 Iraq
Given the stakes of the game, we expect both sides to go all out in search of maximum points as they look to reach the knockout stages. Morocco boast a superior squad on paper and we fancy them to come away with all three points, albeit by the odd goal.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
