Olympic Men's Football Betting Tips: Back Argentina to take home the gold in Paris

Despite not being one of the main attractions at the Olympic Games, the players who take part are all desperate to get their hands on some gold. So who are the contenders?  

France - 2.98

France are the tournament favourites and hosts. They are blessed with a wide talent pool and have the players to beat anyone. Les Bleus have been at the business end of all major competitions since 2016 but that pedigree hasn’t translated to the Olympic games. The French failed to qualify for the five Olympics prior to Tokyo 2020. They were eliminated in the group stages of that tournament after losing against Japan and Mexico.

Thierry Henry is the man who has been tasked with leading the team at this year’s games. The Arsenal legend has experience as assistant manager of Belgium as well as leading the France U23 squad since last year. 

Star Man – Michael Olise

Michael Olise has traded the Premier League for the Bundesliga this summer with a switch to Bayern Much. The winger was unlucky to miss out on the French squad for Euro 2024 but he will be knocking on the door if he continues to deliver the sort of performances he has. 

Olise scored 10 goals and assisted a further six for Crystal Palace in the league last season despite playing just 19 matches. He ranked in the top five percent for non-penalty goals, expected assists and shots per 90 minutes when compared with all other attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues. Olise has also netted three goals in his last two games in Thierry Henry’s Olympic squad. 

One To Watch – Enzo Millot

Stuttgart were one of the standout sides in the Bundesliga last season as they finished second. Enzo Millot was a key contributor to that success. The midfielder looks destined for great things. He is an adept tackler but it is his range of passing that sets him apart. Enzo is calm on the ball and is able to dictate the pace of the game. That could prove to be a crucial trait in this French squad. 

Spain - 3.35

Spain come into this competition fresh off of winning the European Championships. They triumphed over Italy, Germany, England and the hosts France on their way to lifting that trophy but it will be a vastly different team that takes to the field for the Olympics. La Roja’s young guns starred at Euro 2024 so big names such as Lamine Yamal won’t feature here. Nonetheless, there are still plenty of players capable of conjuring up some magic.

Star Man – Alex Baena

Alex Baena may be young but he is already a key player for Villarreal. He will be vital in the Spanish midfield here. He came off the bench twice at Euro 2024 but it’s seemingly only a matter of time before he becomes an important player for the senior squad.

Baena has completed the fourth most accurate through balls in Europe’s top five leagues over the last two seasons, only Odegaard, Fernandes and Messi have made more. Last season, he ranked in the two percent of midfielders in those same leagues for shot-creating actions, non-penalty xG and assists. 

One To Watch - Samuel Omorodion

Samuel Omorodion is set to lead the line for Spain here. He spent last season on loan at Alaves from Atletico Madrid. The striker netted nine league goals but has the physicality and technical prowess to make a greater contribution in the seasons to come. At 6ft4, he is an imposing presence in the box but he also has the pace to get away from his opponents. 

Argentina - 4.00

Argentina’s senior team are quite literally on top of the world. They are the holders of the World Cup and the nation is still in a jubilant mood following their success at the Copa America this summer. Lionel Messi is the crowning jewel of Argentinian football but his playing days are numbered. La Albiceleste’s Olympic squad features a number of ultra-talented young players, some of whom will be expected to step up and help fill the void left by Messi.

Star Man – Julian Alvarez

Julian Alvarez netted twice at the Copa America to help his side win the trophy. He had to compete with Lautaro Martinez for a starting berth in that tournament but fighting for his place is commonplace for Julian. He has won all there is to win at club and international level but finds himself behind Erling Haaland in the pecking order at Manchester City.

Despite starting plenty of games on the bench, Alvarez still managed to score 11 and assist eight Premier League goals last season. He averaged 0.41 non-penalty xG per 90 minutes played.  Julian could play a crucial role in helping his team secure gold this summer.

One To Watch – Thiago Almada

Thiago Almada looked a sure thing to play in Europe for some time but that will have to wait after he made the switch from Atlanta United to Botafogo this summer. He scored 26 goals and assisted 24 during his time in the MLS. Botafogo are owned by the same group as Crystal Palace and Lyon so this move could be the first step in him making his way to Europe. The attacking midfielder looks set to shine in the years to come. 

Morocco - 14.5

Morocco earned their place at the Olympics by lifting the U23 African Cup of Nations but there has been a lot of change since then. Issame Charai masterminded that success but he was dismissed as head coach after losing a series of friendly matches at the end of last year. 

Tarik Sektioui was the man chosen to succeed Charai and to lead the team into the games in Paris. He has taken charge of three friendlies as boss of Morocco U23s. Their most recent match was a 2-2 draw against Belgium. Sektioui has won just one of his games in charge thus far and the lack of fixtures in the lead-up to this tournament could prove to be problematic. 

Star Man - Achraf Hakimi

Achraf Hakimi is undoubtedly the star in Morocco’s Olympic team. He was instrumental in their memorable run to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar and could be key here. The full-back, who plays his club football for PSG, has vast amounts of experience despite being just 25.

Hakimi is a creative force in wide areas. He has the ability to dribble past any opponent with an average of 3.74 progressive carries per 90 minutes in the last 12 months. His average of 91.24 passes attempted also puts him in the top one percent of players across Europe’s top five leagues.

One To Watch – Soufiane Rahimi

Soufiane Rahimi is one of the lesser-known names on this list but he will need to have a good tournament if Morocco are to progress far in the competition. The striker plays for Al-Ain and comes into this tournament  in fine fettle. Rahimi has scored seven goals in his last nine matches. 

USA - 20.0

The USA had a disastrous time in the summer when they hosted the Copa America. Their 2-1 defeat against Panama in the group stages meant they failed to make it to the knockout stages. Marko Mitrovic is the coach tasked with salvaging some national pride for the sport.

Gregg Berhalter’s Copa America squad featured an abundance of players who plied their trade in Europe but the US will be much more reliant on MLS talent at the Olympics.

Star Man – Walker Zimmerman

Zimmerman is the captain of this team and has a wealth of experience. He has been capped 42 times by the senior squad and played all of their matches at the last World Cup. 

The centre-back will be tasked with rallying the troops and ensuring the defence holds firm. Their opening game against France will be a huge test for the veteran defender. Zimmerman averages 2.25 interceptions per 90 minutes in the last year and is set to be busy in Paris.

One To Watch – Dorde Mihailovic

The Colorado Rapids striker will be tasked with grabbing the goals for the USA. He has eight goals in his last nine matches at club level. Dorde Mihailovic is also capable of creating chances with an average of 6.45 progressive passes per 90 over the last 365 days.  

Prediction

Four of the last five winners of the men’s Olympic football have come from South America. The exception was Mexico’s triumph at London 2012 but they also play in the Copa America. Argentina won in 2004 and 2008 and have the squad to succeed once again. 

Lionel Messi may not be participating, but Javier Mascherano is still blessed with arguably the best squad in the tournament. The absence of Brazil, a side that has made the final of the last three Olympics, is also a boost to Argentina’s chances. 

Recommended Bet: Argentina to win the gold medal at 4.00