Hoping to reach knockout stage
Iraq loses to Argentina 3-1 in Paris
NEWSROOM — The Iraqi Olympic team suffered a 3-1 defeat to Argentina on Saturday in the second round of the group stage at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite securing a win against Ukraine in their opening match, Iraq’s hopes to reach the knockout stage hinge on their upcoming match against Morocco.
Argentina opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a swift attack from the left wing, culminating in a goal by Thiago Almada. The match saw seven minutes of stoppage time added in the first half. Ayman Hussein equalized for Iraq with a powerful header, leveling the score at 1-1.
In the second half, substitute Luciano Gondou capitalized on a defensive lapse, scoring with a header in the 62nd minute to give Argentina a 2-1 lead. Ezequiel Fernández secured the victory for Argentina with a third goal in the 85th minute after a series of impressive passes, making the final score 3-1. This win helped Argentina recover from their surprise opening loss to Morocco, 2-1.
The Iraqi national football team has a history of participating in the Olympic Games, with six appearances since their first in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Their most notable achievement came during the 2004 Athens Olympics, where they reached the semifinals and ultimately finished fourth after a narrow loss to Italy in the bronze medal match.
Argentina’s football team has enjoyed significant success in the 21st century, particularly in the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2004, Argentina won its first Olympic gold medal in football by defeating Paraguay in the final, under the guidance of coach Marcelo Bielsa and featuring standout players like Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
The team continued their success by defending their title in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Coached by Sergio Batista, Argentina, with stars like Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, and Ángel Di María, clinched their second consecutive gold medal by defeating Nigeria in the final.
Iraq’s upcoming match against Morocco will determine their fate in the tournament, as they strive to advance to the knockout stage.
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