Whilst the Olympic opening ceremony does not take place until Friday night, Paris 2024 will get underway earlier in the week, with Argentina versus Morocco kicking off the football.
La Albiceleste will be hoping to start their campaign in positive fashion in the opening tie of Group B, as they aim to replicate their gold medal successes of Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Argentina will need to improve from Tokyo 2020 if they are to do so, after they underperformed pre-tournament expectations and crashed out in the group stages.
Javier Mascherano takes charge of the Argentina Olympic 2024 team, and they will look to bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 defeat in their final pre-tournament preparation game to Guinea.
Argentina qualified for the tournament after finishing second at the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament, and they will be hoping to follow in the success of the senior side, who won the Copa America 2024 earlier this month.
Tarik Sektioui's Morocco will be aiming to spoil La Albiceleste's party, as they look to improve upon their previous appearances at the Olympics, with their best finish seeing them get to the second round of Munich 1972.
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Team News
Argentina
Mascherano's 18-man squad contains four members of the 2022 World Cup-winning senior squad with goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, defender Nicolas Otamendi and forward Julian Alvarez filling the three overage spots, the latter two also featuring during the recent Copa America win.
Thiago Almada completes the 2022 World Cup winners and the Botafogo winner will be expected to provide creativity to La Albiceleste.
Other prominent names to feature within the squad are Fiorentina's Lucas Beltran and Giuliano Simeone, who is the son of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone.
Morocco
Morocco are spearheaded by Paris Saint Germain's Achraf Hakimi who makes up one of the three overage players. Goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui and winger Soufiane Rahimi complete the trio.
Morocco have several promising youngsters, who will be looking to make a difference, with opportunity beckoning for Bilal El Khannouss, Ilias Akhomach and Eliesse Ben Seghir.
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Likely Line-ups
Argentina
Rulli; Lujan, Otamendi, Amione, Soler; Fernandez, Medina; Almada, Alvarez, Echeverri; Beltran
Morocco
El Kajoui; Hakimi, Boukamir, Tahif, Nakach; Richardson, El Azzouzi; El Khannouss, Akhomach, Rahimi; Ben Seghir
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Key Players
Argentina - Julian Alvarez
Manchester City's Alvarez will look to add a Paris 2024 Olympic Gold Medal to add to his decorated trophy cabinet, in what has been a whirlwind few years for the 24-year-old.
After coming through the River Plate youth system, Alvarez would sign for Manchester City in January 2022, before being loaned back to River Plate until the summer.
Alvarez was thrust straight into the first team, and played a pivotal role for his club side, scoring 17 times in 49 appearances, as they won a glittering treble, consisting of: UEFA Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.
The Argentinian forward would continue his club form in the 23/24 season as Manchester City retained their Premier League title, scoring 11 league goals in 36 appearances, and becoming a constant presence in Pep Guardiola's starting eleven.
Alvarez would also win major honours at the national stage, contributing to Argentina's 2022 World Cup win in Qatar and the recent 2024 Copa America success earlier this month.
A versatile, direct, quick forward who can play anywhere across the front line, Mascherano will be hoping to lean on Alvarez's experience at the top level to help lead his side to glory, with the striker expected to be entrusted in a pivotal central position for his nation, and the main attacking threat.
Alvarez will need to use his intelligence, finishing and determination to lead the Argentinian charge, and fire his nation to further glory.
Morocco - Achraf Hakimi
Despite only being 25 years old, Hakimi has become an icon in Moroccan football, and a pivotal part of their senior national side, earning 77 international caps for his nation, after making his debut in 2016. This international success reached its peak at the 2022 World Cup, where Morocco came fourth after over-performing expectations.
Hakimi came through the ranks at Real Madrid, before a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund saw the attacking right-back emerge on the global stage.
A successful spell at Inter Milan would follow where Hakimi would win Serie A, before Hakimi joined Paris Saint Germain and has enjoyed several years of dominance earning multiple Ligue 1 titles.
The right-back is renowned for marauding down the wing, and using his blistering pace to get in behind opposition defences. Expect him to take on a prominent role if Morocco are to advance through the group-stages.
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Match Details
Where is the match being played?
The match will be played at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne, France.
What time is kick-off?
Kick-off is at 14:00 BST on Wednesday 23rd July 2024.
How can I watch?
Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the match on Eurosport via Discovery+.
