MX23RW : Sunday, August 1 01:06:54| >> :120:11991:11991:
Jul 28, 2021 at 12pm UK at Saitama Stadium 2002
Spain U23sSpain Under-23s
1-1
Argentina U23sArgentina Under-23s
Merino (66')
Gil (83')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Belmonte (87')
Perez (10'), Vera (53'), Colombatto (58'), Payero (61'), Bravo (81'), Mosevich (90+2')

Preview: Spain Under-23s vs. Argentina Under-23s - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Olympic Games Men's Football clash between Spain Under-23s and Argentina Under-23s, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Spain Under-23s are aiming to secure top spot in Group C at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, when they finish the group stage fixtures against Argentina Under-23s on Wednesday.

Both sides have only managed to score once in their first two games but Spain have one more point than Argentina, who currently sit third behind Australia on goal difference.


Match preview

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente reacts on July 22, 2021© Reuters

Luis de la Fuente's side opened their 2020 Olympics campaign with a goalless draw against Egypt last Thursday, a game in which the Spaniards dominated the ball but were not clinical in front of goal.

Their second game of the tournament came against Australia at the Sapporo Dome, where Mikel Oyarzabal's 81st-minute strike sealed three points for Spain and moved them to the summit of the group.

Having seen a large proportion of possession in their favour, Spain have also been able to limit their opponents to few chances on Unai Simon's goal, and they are the only nation who are yet to concede at the Olympics this summer.

The Tokyo Games is only Spain's second appearance at the Olympics since 2000, most recently they were eliminated at the group stages at London 2012, but the nation has previously won this competition at home in 1992.

Avoiding defeat on Wednesday will secure Spain's place in the last eight, but to top the group and not rely on the result in the game between Australia and Egypt, they need all three points.

Patricio Perez of Argentina, Santiago Colombatto of Argentina and teammates remonstrate with the referee on July 22, 2021© Reuters

Argentina need to play catch-up on Wednesday after one win and one loss at the Olympics so far this month, and even a win against Spain will not make their place in the quarter-finals certain.

Fernando Batista's side will need to better Australia's result against Egypt, and if the Aussies win Argentina will have to beat Spain by a big margin to overturn a two-goal difference gap.

Their Tokyo Olympics campaign did not get off to a great start when Australia's Lachlan Wales scored inside the first 15 minutes in their opening fixture, and the situation for Argentina worsened when Francisco Ortega was shown a second yellow card before half time.

Marco Tilio scored Australia's second of that game and Argentina fell to a 2-0 defeat at the Sapporo Dome, leaving the nation to chase a top-two finish.

Argentina scored with their only shot on target in their last outing when they faced Egypt, centre-back Facundo Medina getting his side off the mark with that goal on Sunday.

The South American side are looking to better their group stage finish in Rio 2016, when the four points they earned eliminated them from the Olympics, and the side will be taking inspiration from the Argentinian squads that won gold in 2004 and 2008.

Spain Under-23s Olympic Games Men's Football form:
  • D
  • W

Spain Under-23s form (all competitions):
  • D
  • D
  • W

Argentina Under-23s Olympic Games Men's Football form:
  • L
  • W

Argentina Under-23s form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W



Team News

Francisco Ortega of Argentina is shown a red card by referee Leodan Gonzalez on July 22, 2021© Reuters

Spain have no injury or suspension concerns ahead of Wednesday's fixture, with many of their players into their second international tournament of the summer having represented Spain at the Euros.

Among those who featured at the senior Euros tournament are Dani Olmo, Oyarzabal, Pedri, Pau Torres and Eric Garcia, who all started Spain's last game against Egypt.

Pedri has been an ever-present for De la Fuente's side at the Olympics this summer, but the pair who line up with him in midfield have altered in the opening two matches this summer - Mikel Merino and Dani Ceballos started against Egypt but were replaced by Carlos Soler and Martin Zubimendi in the last game.

Argentina's Ortega served his one-match suspension when his side played Egypt on Sunday, and he could be kept out of the starting 11 by Claudio Bravo, who played well last time out when he came into the lineup in Ortega's absence.

Batista went for a more attacking formation against Egypt and as they need to better Australia's result on Wednesday, he is expected to send out the same 11 to the side that picked up three points on Sunday.

Spain Under-23s possible starting lineup:
Simon; Cucurella, Torres, Garcia, Gil; Zubimendi, Soler, Pedri; Olmo, Oyarzabal, Puado

Argentina Under-23s possible starting lineup:
Ledesma; Bravo, Medina, Perez, De La Fuente; Vera, Payero; Barco, Allister, De la Vega; Gaich


SM words green background

We say: Spain Under-23s 1-1 Argentina Under-23s

Spain are likely to dominate the possession again on Wednesday which is likely to limit Argentina's chances in front of goal, and having only scored one goal in this tournament so far, it is unlikely that they will manage any more than a single goal against Spain.

The Spanish have not been free flowing on the scoring front either, meaning that this game could be one of few goals and is expected to be a tight affair.






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How you voted: Spain U23s vs Argentina U23s

Spain Under-23s
41.9%
Draw
41.9%
Argentina Under-23s
16.3%
43
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Olympic medal table header
CountryGold medalSilver MedalBronze MedalT
ChinaChina21131246
JapanJapan175830
United StatesUnited States16171346
Olympics flagOlympic Athletes from Russia11151137
AustraliaAustralia1031427
Great BritainGreat Britain891128
Today's Olympic highlights header

Sunday's key events


GOLF
· The men's golf reaches its conclusion, with plenty of players still in medal contention. Home favourite Hideki Matsuyama is one shot off Xander Schauffele's lead, while Great Britain's Paul Casey is another shot further back and Tommy Fleetwood is also in the mix (11.30pm-8am)

CYCLING - BMX
· Great Britain have already made history in the BMX events in Tokyo, something Charlotte Worthington and Declan Brooks will be looking to add to in the women's (2.10am) and men's (3.10am) freestyle finals

SWIMMING
· The final day of swimming action begins with the men's 50m freestyle final. Ben Proud could add to a medal-laden Games in the pool for Team GB so far, although he is up against USA's Caeleb Dressel, who is going for his fourth gold in Tokyo (2.30am)
· From sprint to endurance, Great Britain's second medal hope of the day comes through Daniel Jervis in the men's 1500m freestyle final (2.44am)
· Team GB will again be among the heavy favourites for gold in the last swimming event of the Games - the men's 4x100m medley relay final - having won the mixed event in a world record time on Saturday (3.36am)

BOXING
· Already guaranteed at least a bronze, Pat McCormack takes part in the men's welterweight semi-final against Ireland's Aidan Walsh with a spot in the gold medal final at stake (4.03am)
· Ben Whittaker is also in the semi-finals of the men's light heavyweight and will be looking to continue Team GB's success in the ring (4.51am)

TENNIS
· There will be a surprise on the top of the men's tennis podium after Novak Djokovic missed out on a medal altogether. Alexander Zverev takes on Karen Khachanov in the second match on Centre Court at the Ariake Tennis Park (7am-2pm)

SAILING
· Alison Young will be going for gold in the women's laser radial medal race (7.33am)

ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
· Team GB's Max Whitlock will look to defend his 2016 Olympic title in the men's pommel horse final (10.41am)

ATHLETICS
· The men's high jump final includes GB's Tom Gale, although his chances of a medal look bleak (11.10am)
· So often the blue-riband event of the Olympics, the men's 100m final takes place as the world's fastest bid to be crowned Usain Bolt's successor. Three Brits have made it into the semi-finals (11.15am-11.32am), and the final looks wide open after an underwhelming display by favourite Trayvon Bromell on Saturday (1.50pm)

HOCKEY
· Great Britain face India in the men's quarter-final (1pm)

> Today's schedule in full
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