Ukraine vs Morocco

Ukraine’s hopes of making a standout result in their maiden appearances at the Olympic Games hang by a thread as they meet Morocco in a must-win clash at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Despite breaking the deadlock early in the second half in their first-ever game at the Olympics, Ukraine slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Iraq in their Group B opener. After failing to live up to their tag as pre-match favorites against the Asian nation, Ukraine must upset the apple cart to avoid an early exit. They will rely on manager Ruslan Rotan to help them navigate this challenge. With 100 caps for the senior national team, Ruslan boasts a wealth of experience. He used it to guide Ukraine to the semi-finals of last year’s UEFA European Under-21 Championship and conquer the Maurice Revello tournament earlier this summer. Indeed, the Ukrainians are no idle threat, having strung together an eight-game unbeaten run (W6, D2) before losing to Iraq.

In the meantime, calling Morocco’s outstanding 2-1 win against Argentina in their curtain-raising Group B fixture would be an understatement. The Moroccans were a goal up heading into second-half stoppages before Cristian Medina’s 106th strike restored parity, only for the game to continue after a two-hour halt and see Argentina’s equalizer disallowed by VAR. Another victory would catapult Morocco into the knockout stages for the first time since the Munich games in 1972, yet they can’t take anything for granted. An evenly contested encounter could be on the cards, especially considering none of the Atlas Lions’ last eight games at the Olympics have been decided by a margin of 2+ goals, highlighting the potential for a tight affair.