Sabasports Match Preview
Olympic Games: Iraq U23 vs Ukraine U23
Kickoff Time: 2024-07-25 01:00 (HKT)
Source: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
In the recent U23 Asian Cup third-place match, Iraq U23 emerged victorious over the surprising dark horse, Indonesia U23, with a hard-fought 2-1 victory in extra time. They secured not only the third-place spot but also a direct ticket to the Paris Olympics. The standout players of them undoubtedly include Ali Jasim, who played a key role in defeating Indonesia U23; and their leading scorer, Aymen Hussein. In fact, Ali Jassim had already established himself as a mainstay in the Iraqi national team during the 2018 Asian Cup in February. Iraq’s ability to defeat the favored Japan in the group stage and progress to the knockout rounds as group leaders was largely thanks to a group of star players, including Aymen Hussein and Ali Jasim. Although Iraq U23 boast two exceptional forwards, their overall strength in other positions is not as impressive, resulting in limitations.
In the recent Maurice Revello Tournament final, Ukraine U23 triumphed over Ivory Coast U20 in a penalty shootout, securing the championship trophy. Ukrainian U23 consist of many outstanding players, including Danylo Sikan from Shakhtar Donetsk, who has been playing in the Ukrainian Super League since the 2018-19 season. Over the past two seasons, Sikan has contributed nine goals and one assist; and 10 goals and three assists in the league, showcasing his impressive scoring efficiency. He is already a member of the Ukrainian national team, having participated in the European Championship qualifiers and the UEFA Nations League. The majority of players in Ukrainian U23 had a high attendance rate in the Ukrainian League last season. Maksym Khlan, who scored in the Maurice Revello final, plays in the Polish First Division and contributed 10 goals and four assists for his team last season, helping Klecia Gdansk secure promotion. In comparison to Iraq U23, Ukrainian U23’s strength is evidently superior.
Considering the overall strength and performance of both teams, Ukraine U23 hold a noticeable advantage, demonstrated by their impressive performance in the Maurice Revello Tournament. Therefore, it would be reasonable to expect the outstanding Ukrainian U23 to secure all three points in this game.
Iraq U23’s Last 5 Games: DLWWW
24-05-02 Iraq U23 1-1 Indonesia U23 (AET 2-1)
24-04-30 Japan U23 2-0 Iraq U23
24-04-27 Iraq U23 1-0 Vietnam U23
24-04-22 Saudi Arabia U23 1-2 Iraq U23
24-04-20 Tajikistan U23 2-4 Iraq U23
Ukraine U23’s Last 5 Games: DWWWW
24-06-17 Ukraine U23 2-2 Ivory Coast U20 (PEN 5-4)
24-06-10 Ukraine U23 2-1 Japan U19
24-06-08 Ukraine U23 2-0 Panama U23
24-06-06 Ukraine U23 4-0 Italy U21
24-06-04 Indonesia U20 0-3 Ukraine U23
Head To Head Record:
None
Prediction: Ukraine U23 to win