New Zealand vs USA Prediction Olympic 2024

⚽ Olympic Football Games 2024 Match Preview

⏰ 27 July 2024 - 18:00 GMT +1

🏟 Stadium: Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)

New Zealand delivered one of the biggest shocks of the men's football tournament's opening day by securing just their second-ever Olympic victory, defeating Guinea 2-1. With a core group of players fresh from winning the OFC Nations Cup with the senior national team in June, the OlyWhites are now in a strong position where even a draw against the USA could see them reach the quarter-finals for a second consecutive time.

The Kiwis continue to defy expectations, having been considered underdogs in all five Olympic matches since Tokyo 2020. They added Wednesday's win over Guinea to their previous victory against South Korea, a draw with Romania, and a valiant performance against Japan in the previous Games.

USA Olympic head coach Marko Mitrović remains supportive of his squad and gameplan despite a bruising 3-0 loss to gold-medal favorites France. He maintains that his players "were in the right spot" and "didn't deserve to lose this way". However, this result was a significant step back from their 2-2 away draw with France in March.

The USA's recent form has been concerning, with the loss to France following a 2-0 defeat to Japan in June, which Mitrović described as "the lowest performance by far" since his appointment. Even their recent 1-0 win over Paraguay, who lost 5-0 to Japan in their opener, could be considered underwhelming.

Where to watch New Zealand vs USA?

📺 Link to watch New Zealand vs USA Live Stream on TV

📋Players to watch:

• Michael Boxall (New Zealand): Experienced defender who may offer insights into USA's MLS-based overage players.
• Djordje Mihailovic (USA): Attacking midfielder previously coached by Mitrović at Chicago Fire.

⚡Match Facts:

• USA's Olympic/under-23 team has led at half-time in just two of their last 12 games.
• New Zealand has been considered underdogs in all five Olympic matches since Tokyo 2020.
• New Zealand secured only their second-ever Olympic victory in their opening match.

💡Prediction: This match presents an intriguing clash between an overachieving New Zealand side and a struggling USA team. New Zealand, buoyed by their surprise victory over Guinea and recent international success, will likely approach the game with confidence and resilience. The USA, on the other hand, will be desperate to bounce back from their heavy defeat to France. Expect New Zealand to employ a disciplined, counter-attacking strategy, while the USA may push for an early goal to settle their nerves. The first half could be tense and cagey, with the game potentially opening up in the second half. Given New Zealand's recent form and the USA's struggles, an upset or a draw seems plausible, but the individual talent in the USA squad could still prove decisive.

Betting Tips:

• Draw or New Zealand (Double Chance)
• Under 2.5 goals in the match
• Both teams to score
• USA to not lead at half-time
• Second half to have more goals than the first half