Iraq vs Ukraine Prediction Olympic 2024

⚽ Olympic Football Games 2024 Match Preview

⏰ 24 July 2024 - 18:00 GMT +1

🏟 Stadium: Parc Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon)

After a stunning fourth-placed finish at the 2004 Olympics, Iraq have struggled to make an impact, failing to qualify in 2008, 2012, and 2020 while suffering elimination at the group stage in 2016. Motivated by past shortcomings, the Lions of Babylon aim to impress in Paris, having secured their spot by finishing third in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup earlier this year.

Manager Radhi Shenaishil has selected a 22-man squad with few household names to tackle this tournament. Despite being clear outsiders in a challenging group that includes Argentina and Morocco, Shenaishil may find solace in the fact that 17 squad members play their club football domestically, potentially providing crucial familiarity against their more illustrious opponents.

Ukraine, on the other hand, has qualified for their first-ever Olympic football tournament after reaching the semi-finals of last year's UEFA European Under-21 Championship. They enter this match against Iraq on an eight-game unbeaten run (W6, D2), bolstered by their recent victory in the Maurice Revello tournament.

However, Ukraine faces some challenges. Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk is unavailable due to pre-season commitments, and national team manager Ruslan Rotan has chosen only two overage players: the relatively inexperienced Maksym Talovyerov and Dmytro Kryskiv, with Talovyerov having competed at UEFA Euro 2024.

Where to watch Iraq vs Ukraine?

📺 Link to watch Iraq vs Ukraine Live Stream on TV

📋Players to watch:

• Ali Jasim (Iraq): Top scorer at the U-23 Asian Cup, directly contributing to eight goals in his last seven international matches across senior and youth sides.
• Danylo Sikan (Ukraine): One of only three players to reach double figures in the Ukrainian Premier League scoring charts in 2023/24.

⚡Match Facts:

• Iraq's U23 side hasn't drawn any of their last 12 matches (W7, L5).
• Ukraine is on an eight-game unbeaten run (W6, D2).
• This is Ukraine's first-ever Olympic football tournament appearance.

💡Prediction: Despite Iraq's experience in Olympic tournaments, Ukraine's recent form and success in youth competitions give them an edge. Ukraine's attacking prowess, led by Danylo Sikan, could prove decisive against Iraq's less experienced defense. However, Iraq's domestic-based squad cohesion and Ali Jasim's goal-scoring ability could pose a threat on the counter. Expect a competitive match with Ukraine's technical superiority gradually asserting itself. The first half may be tight, but Ukraine's depth and recent tournament experience should see them through in the second half, potentially breaking the deadlock and securing a narrow victory.

Betting Tips:

• Ukraine to win
• Under 2.5 goals in the match
• Danylo Sikan to score anytime
• Both teams to score: No
• Ukraine to win by a 1-goal margin