New Zealand will be looking to secure a place in the quarter-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics when they take on host nation France in Group A on Tuesday.
Having picked up two wins in their two games so far, Les Blues will be looking to maintain their 100% record and we anticipate a thrilling group finale at the Stade Velodrome.
Match preview
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Matthew Garbett and Ben Waine found the back of the net as New Zealand picked up a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Guinea at the Allianz Riviera last Wednesday to kick off their Olympics football quest on a high.
However, Darren Bazeley's men were sent back down to earth on Saturday as they suffered a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of the United States when both nations faced off at the Stade de Marseille.
Having lost their opening game, Team USA stormed into a four-goal lead courtesy of Djordje Mihailovic, Walker Zimmerman, Gianluca Busio and Paxten Aaronson before Jesse Randall grabbed a 78th-minute consolation.
While a win on Tuesday guarantees their last-eight spot, New Zealand will need to be at their best against a star-studded French side who are unbeaten in each of their last five matches in July, claiming four wins and one draw.
A point will also see the South Pacific nation make it consecutive knockout-stage appearances at the Games, but only if Guinea cause an upset and claim victory against Team USA in the other group fixture.
New Zealand had never made it past the group stages until they secured a second-placed finish in Group B of the 2020 Summer Olympics, but they were dumped out in the quarter-finals following a penalty-shootout defeat against Japan.
On the other hand, two wins from the opening two games in Group A has seen France secure a place in the Olympic football quarter-finals for the first time since 1996
A nervy 1-0 victory over Guinea on Saturday evening was enough to see France break the 28-year spell as Freiburg man Kiliann Sildillia struck deep into the second half to see off Guinea at the Allianz Riviera.
The host nation were spared their blushes shortly before the half-time break as Abdoulaye Toure opened the scoring to put Guinea in front but the goal was ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR review.
Prior to that, France stormed to an emphatic 3-0 victory over Team USA in the Group A curtain-raiser on July 24, with Alexandre Laccazette, Michael Olise and Loic Balde getting on the scoresheet in a second-half rout.
With former marksman Thierry Henry at the helm of affairs, Les Blues have stamped their names as firm favourites to go all the way as they look to secure a second gold medal at the Games.
France first clinched gold in 1984, when they edged out Egypt and Yugoslavia to reach the final where they picked up a 2-0 victory over Brazil thanks to second-half goals from Francois Brisson and Daniel Xuereb.
Team News
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Off the back of an injury-free game against the United States, New Zealand will head into Tuesday's clash with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns, giving Bazeley the luxury of a full house to choose from.
Following his eye-catching cameo on Saturday, Randall could be rewarded with a place in the XI, forming the front three with Plymouth Argyle striker Waine and 22-year-old Lachlan Bayliss.
Olise has been on song for France at the Olympics and the new Bayern Munich man, who has three goal involvements in the first two games, will be one to look out for.
He should form the attacking trio with former Crystal Palace teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta and Olympique Lyon forward Lacazette while Joris Chotard, Enzo Millot and Manu Kone should team in midfield.
At the defensive end of the pitch, Balde and Leipzig man Castello Lukeba have started the opening two matches and should form the centre-back pairing once again, with Sildillia and Adrien Truffert taking up the full-back roles.
New Zealand possible starting lineup:
Paulsen; Bindon, Surman, Boxall, Sutton; Bell, Garbett, Singh; Randall, Bayliss, Waine
France possible starting lineup:
Restes; Sildillia, Bade, Lukeba, Truffert; Millot, Kone, Chotard; Olise, Mateta, Lacazette
We say: New Zealand 0-3 France
New Zealand will need to be at their best on Monday as they go up against host nation France who have flown out of the blocks. Given the gulf in quality and depth between the two sides, we predict that Henry's side will come away with all three points unscathed.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
