Ultimately aiming to go one better than three years ago in Japan, Spain Under-23s meet Uzbekistan Under-23s in their first game at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Wednesday.
Getting their campaigns under way at Parc des Princes, both nations are competing to progress from Group C, which also features Egypt and the Dominican Republic.
Match preview
© Reuters
Shortly after the senior national team's success at Euro 2024, Spain's Under-23 side will try to make it a golden summer by winning the men's Olympic football competition in France.
In line with tournament rules, Santi Denia's squad selection was restricted to players born in 2001 or later, with a maximum of three overage players allowed.
Several stars of this year's European Championship triumph were involved at the delayed Tokyo 2020 games - including Unai Simon, Pedri, Dani Olmo and final hero Mikel Oyarzabal - with Luis de la Fuente overseeing La Rojita's run to the Olympic final.
A team also featuring former Barcelona defender Eric Garcia - who is back in the squad this summer - lost 2-1 to Brazil after extra time and were ultimately forced to settle for silver.
This time around, Spain qualified for their 12th Olympics by virtue of finishing runners-up at the 2023 European Under-21 Championship, and they now want to replicate the squad that won gold on home soil in 1992.
© Reuters
By contrast with their opening opponents, Uzbekistan are making their Olympic football debut, having never qualified before.
Like Spain, the White Wolves lost out in the final of what was effectively their qualifying competition, being beaten by Japan in the recent Under-23 Asian Cup in Qatar.
Timur Kapadze's side missed a late penalty that could have forced extra time, but the consolation of making it to France certainly helped to contain their disappointment - semi-final victory over Indonesia had already sealed the deal.
Having previously finished in the top two of that tournament twice - but not during Olympic years - Uzbekistan finally got their reward, and adding Roma striker Eldor Shomurodov as one of three overage players should boost hopes of progressing from Group C.
His nation's all-time top scorer with 40 international goals at senior level, Shomurodov bears a heavy burden - but the chance to make more history is also there for the taking.
- W
- W
- L
- D
- L
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Although they are yet to play together - outside of last week's practice match against the USA - Santi Denia's Spain squad contains several established La Liga players, including Barcelona duo Fermin Lopez and Pau Cubarsi.
After his breakthrough campaign last season, the latter faces competition from Valencia's Cristhian Mosquera to partner Eric Garcia at the heart of La Roja's defence.
Like Lopez, Villarreal star Alex Baena was part of the squad that won Euro 2024, and the 23-year-old is expected to play an important role in midfield; highly-rated striker Samu Omorodion - who impressed on loan at Alaves last season - could start up front.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan have a more settled lineup, having followed their Under-23 Asian Cup campaign with a recent friendly win over New Zealand.
The White Wolves are captained by Eldor Shomurodov, while Abdukodir Khusanov should start in defence following appearances in the last two Ligue 1 games for Lens last term.
CSKA Moscow winger Abbosbek Fayzullaev beat Shomurodov to be named Uzbek Player of the Year in 2023 and is set to play on the right flank.
Uzbekistan Under-23s possible starting lineup:
Nematov; Mirsaidov, Khamraliev, Khusanov, Yuldashev; Buriev, Kholmatov; Fayzullaev, Jaloliddinov, Odilov; Shomurodov
Spain Under-23s possible starting lineup:
Tenas; Pubill, Garcia, Cubarsi, Miranda; Baena, Barrios, Bernabe; Lopez, Ruiz, Omorodion
We say: Uzbekistan Under-23s 1-2 Spain Under-23s
Although Uzbekistan's squad have been together for a while now, several Spanish stars have come through a successful youth system at the same time and should have a good understanding.
La Rojita are justifiably among the competition favourites, but they may be made to work hard for an opening victory in Paris.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
