Fresh off the back of an emphatic victory over New Zealand, USA go head to head with Guinea in the final round of group-stage games at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Tuesday.
While the National Elephants have lost their opening two games in Group A, victory here could see them through to the knockout stages and we expect them to go all out at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Match preview
© Reuters
United States picked up a huge result in their hunt for a quarter-final berth as they cruised to a 4-1 victory over New Zealand at the Allianz Riviera on Saturday afternoon.
Djordje Mihailovic, Walker Zimmerman, Gianluca Busio and Paxten Aaronson all found the back of the net to put the United States in a commanding four-goal lead before Jesse Randall pulled one back for New Zealand in the 78th minute.
Just three days earlier, Team USA were on the receiving end of a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of host nation France in the Group A curtain-raiser, with Alexandre Laccazette, Michael Olise and Loic Balde all getting on the scoresheet for Les Bleus in the second half.
Featuring in the Olympics for the first time in 16 years, Marko Mitrovic's men will be looking to avoid a repeat of their run in 2008, when they finished third in Group B with four points from a possible nine, missing out on the knockout stages by just one point.
Team USA's best result at the Games came in Australia back in 2000, when they finished as Group C winners with five points from a possible nine before edging out Japan on penalties in the quarter-finals.
However, they were no match for Spain in the semis as they were beaten 3-1 by La Roja on September 26, three days before falling to a 2-0 loss against South American nation Chile in the bronze medal match.
Making their first-ever Olympic football appearance, Guinea find themselves on the cusp of a group-stage exit after suffering defeats in their opening two matches.
The National Elephants were denied a dream start to the Games on July 24 as they were beaten 2-1 by New Zealand in the opening game at the Allianz Riviera.
After falling behind to Matthew Garbett's 25th-minute opener, Guinea fought back into the game with Amadou Diawara restoring parity in the 72nd-minute, but Ben Waine struck moments later to hand the South Pacific nation all three points.
Kaba Diawara's men turned in a resilient team display against France three days later but they would be left empty handed yet again they fell to a 1-0 loss courtesy of a 75th-minute strike from Freiburg defender Kiliann Sildillia.
While Guinea are yet to pick up any points in Group A, they remain in contention for a last-eight spot as victory on Tuesday will see them go through should France prevail against New Zealand in the other group fixture.
Team News
Venezia midfielder Busio was forced off injured midway through the first half against New Zealand at the weekend and the 22-year-old is a major doubt for Team USA.
In his absence, Philadelphia Union's Jack McGlynn will push for his first start at the Games, teaming up with Colorado Rapids man Mihailovic and skipper Tanner Tessmann in midfield.
Off the back of a solid display against France, we expect Guinea to name a similar XI on Tuesday, with Madiou Keita, Mohamed Soumah and Bangali Cisse forming the three-man defence shielding Soumaila Sylla in goal.
Anderlecht's Diawara, who has scored the National Elephants' only goal at the Games, should be handed a third consecutive start, teaming up with Le Havre man Abdoulaye Toure at the centre of the park.
Former Barcelona youngster Ilaix Moriba has been deployed higher up the pitch by coach Diawara and should retain his role in the front three, alongside Algassime Bah and skipper Naby Keita.
USA possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Tolkin, Robinson, Zimmerman, Harriel; Tessmann, McGlynn, Mihailovic; Aaronson, Parades, McGuire
Guinea possible starting lineup:
Sylla; Keita, Soumah, Cisse; Diallo, Diawara, Toure, Balde; Moriba, Bah, Keita
We say: USA 2-0 Guinea
Team USA showed their class against New Zealand at the weekend and will be licking their lips as they take on an inexperienced Guinea side who have endured a difficult campaign. We predict that Mitrovic's men will pick up where they left off last time out and secure all three points here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
