Group D competitors Israel and Paraguay are set to lock horns in their second match of the Paris 2024 Olympics at Parc des Princes on Saturday evening.
The Skyblue and Whites played out a 1-1 draw against Mali in their opening match, while La Albirroja suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Japan.
Match preview
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Israel are back in the Olympics for the first time since Montreal 1976, and they almost did not make it into this tournament, as they were subject to a hearing by FIFA to determine if they would be allowed to participate.
FIFA, at the last moment, decided to postpone the hearing on whether the side should be suspended from international football until after the competition, allowing the team, who had earned their place, the opportunity to compete under the Olympic rings.
Undoubtedly, the controversy over the nation's involvement in the Games has fired their players up even more to make an impact in Paris this summer, and they did well in their opening match to earn a point, drawing 1-1 against Mali.
Despite employing a mainly defensive strategy, Israel took the lead in the 56th minute with an own goal by Hamid Diallo, but their advantage was short-lived as Mali swiftly equalised, with Cheickna Doumbia scoring in the 63rd minute.
Still, the point could be a crucial one, and if they can take all three points in this second game, a spot in the quarter-finals should be almost guaranteed for Guy Luzon's troops.
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Meanwhile, Paraguay have returned to the Olympics for the first time since 2004, when they departed Athens with a silver medal and high hopes for the program's future.
Carlos Jara Saguier's team, which ousted Brazil and surpassed Argentina in South American qualifying, entered the competition as potential dark horses. However, they now find themselves firmly on the back foot heading into their second match.
La Albirroja were widely expected to cause Japan a few problems in their opening match but a red card for Wilder Viera just 25 minutes into the game led to their collapse and ended in a 5-0 thumping, which is the biggest margin of defeat at this year's games so far.
That result was a stark contrast to the last time the two teams met at this level. In their 2004 Olympic opener, Paraguay defeated Japan 4-3 during Saguier's previous tenure as coach.
In a group format where goal difference could be crucial to qualification hopes, it was a devastating result, but Paraguay can still reach the knockouts if they bounce back in their final two games.
Team News
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Hours before the team's opener against Mali, Israel defender Roy Revivo lost his appeal of a two-game FIFA ban and will be forced into a watching brief for this weekend's fixture.
Ayano Farada and Elad Madmon were both substituted at half-time in the last match, which may suggest that Ido Shahar and Ethane Azoulay could make the starting 11 in their place this week.
Brighton & Hove Albion forward Julio Enciso was starved of service in Paraguay's opener after the red card, but the talented forward is capable of moments of magic and could be one to watch in this match.
Viera will be ineligible for selection this weekend after being sent off last time out and he could be replaced in the starting lineup by Wolverhampton Wanderers teenager Enso Gonzalez.
Israel possible starting lineup:
Niron; Feingold, Goldberg, Lemkin, Ben Harosh; Gandelman, Gloukh, Abada, Shahar, Turgemon; Azoulay
Paraguay possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; De Jesus, Cantero, Flores, Balbuena; Gomez, Perez, Caballero, Gonzalez; Enciso, Frutos
We say: Israel 1-2 Paraguay
While Paraguay suffered a heavy defeat in their opening match, they were right in the contest until they were reduced to 10 men. Back to a full contingent and with their qualification hopes on the line, we feel La Albirroja could pull off an important victory in this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
