Olympics 2024: Ukraine football team starts with a defeat against Iraq
Today, July 24th, the Ukraine Olympic football team played their first official match in the history of the Summer Games 2024. In Lyon, Ruslan Rotan’s squad faced the Asian representative, Iraq.
In preparation for the Olympics, the Blue and Yellow won the international tournament Tournoi Maurice Revello in June. Just before the Olympics, they played two friendlies in France — against Egypt (1:1) and Paraguay (2:2).
Photo by Vitaliy Kliuiev
The historic game against Iraq started with an exchange of shots: Martynyuk missed the target, and Amin tested Fesyun from a distance. In the 13th minute, Mykhailenko had a great shot from the corner of the penalty area, but Hassan saved his team.
The Ukrainians dominated, creating several dangerous moments. Shots by Khlan and Bragaru lacked accuracy. In the 36th minute, after a brilliant run by Bragaru, Khlan somehow missed the goal. Later, Krupskyi made a great solo run, but Hassan was there to save.
Photo by Vitaliy Kliuiev
Early in the second half, Sikan missed a good chance, shooting over the crossbar from Kryskiv’s free-kick pass. However, in the 53rd minute, Ukraine opened the scoring — Hassan parried Batagov’s shot from a set piece, and Rubchynskyi scored on the rebound. But the Iraqis quickly equalized — Hussein converted a penalty after Talovierov’s foul.
The Ukrainians couldn’t regain the lead, while the Iraqis managed to score again. In the 75th minute, Jasim cut inside from the wing and scored into the near corner. During this period, Ruslan Rotan quickly used all his substitutions, but the Blue and Yellow couldn't change the outcome.
Photo by Vitaliy Kliuiev
Ukraine’s late onslaught didn’t bring any dividends, and in added time, Iraq had another chance when Fesyun was saved by the post. As a result, the Blue and Yellow started with a 1:2 defeat.
The next match for Ukraine’s Olympic team will be on July 27 against Morocco.
Olympics 2024. Men’s Football Tournament. Group B
Iraq — Ukraine — 2:1 (0:0)
Goals: Hussein (57, pen.), Jasim (75) — Rubchynskyi (53).
Iraq: Hassan, Ali (Jasim, 58), Maknzi, Tahsin, Bayesh, Amin (Saad, 79), M. Mohammed (N. Mohammed, 58), K. Mohammed, Saadun, Hussein (c) (Al-Imam, 90+12), Ojaymi.
Substitutes: Al-Rikabi, Abdullah, Abdul-Amir.
Coach: Radhi Shenaishil.
Ukraine: Fesyun, Krupskyi, Martynyuk, Talovierov (Salyuk, 73), Rubchynskyi, Mykhailenko (Fedor, 73), Bragaru (Sych, 73), Khlan, Sikan (c) (Krasnopir, 79), Batagov, Kryskiv (Ocheretko, 79).
Substitutes: Yermakov, Veleten.
Coach: Ruslan Rotan.
Referee: Mahmoud Ismail (Sudan).
Booked: Ojaymi (52), Hassan (90+13) — Kryskiv (26), Talovierov (56).
July 24th. Lyon. Stade de Lyon.
Argentina — Morocco — 1:2 (0:1)
Standings
|
|
Team |
M |
W |
D |
L |
GD |
P |
|
1 |
Iraq |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2—1 |
3 |
|
2 |
Morocco |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2—1 |
3 |
|
3 |
Argentina |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1—2 |
0 |
|
4 |
Ukraine |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1—2 |
0 |
July 27, 2024
Argentina vs Iraq (16:00, Lyon)
Ukraine vs Morocco (18:00, Saint-Étienne)
July 30, 2024
Ukraine vs Argentina (18:00, Lyon)
Morocco vs Iraq (18:00, Nice)
All match times are in Kyiv time.
The two top teams from Group B advance to face representatives from Group A.
2024 Olympics. Men's Football Tournament
Group A: France, USA, Guinea, New Zealand.
Group B: Argentina, Morocco, Iraq, Ukraine.
Group C: Uzbekistan, Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic.
Group D: Japan, Paraguay, Mali, Israel.
The format of the Olympic tournament remains traditional: battling in four groups of four teams, with the top two advancing to the playoffs, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, the match for third place, and the final (August 9th, Paris, Parc des Princes).
It's worth recalling that last summer, by defeating France (3:1) in the quarterfinal match of the 2023 Euro (U-21) and securing a spot in the semifinals, our team achieved a historic success, earning the country the right to participate in the football tournament at the Olympics for the first time. Alongside Ukraine, Spain and Israel also obtained licenses for the 2024 Summer Games in this discipline through the 2023 U-21 Euro.
Participants in the men's football tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games will compete from July 24th to August 9th in seven cities in France: Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Saint-Étienne, Nice, and Nantes. According to the regulations, players born after January 1, 2001, are eligible to participate. Additionally, each team can include three players older than this age.
In total, 16 national teams will participate in the tournament: France as the host, three teams representing Europe (Ukraine, Spain, Israel), three from Africa (Morocco, Egypt, Mali), three from Asia (Japan, Uzbekistan, Iraq), two from South America (Paraguay, Argentina), two from the CONCACAF region (USA, Dominican Republic), one from Oceania (New Zealand), and the winner of the intercontinental play-off (Guinea).
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