Two days before the Olympic Games opening ceremony the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament gets underway with Israel playing Mali in Group D.
Five Maccabi players were initially named in the Israel squad for the tournament which will be played from 24 July to 9 August. However, a 2-match suspension Roy Revivo is carrying from the national team following red cards against Kosovo and Iceland, sidelined the full-back from the matches against Mali and Paraguay.
Parc de Princes in Paris will host Israel’s opening match against Mali that qualified to the tournament by winning the decision play-off against Guinea for the last of three available spots at the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, Morocco.
While Israel’s football team is making its’ first appearance in the Olympics for the first time since Montreal 1976, Mali is marking its’ return to the Olympics for the first time in two decades having featured in Athens 2004.
Sixteen countries reached the final tournament: Argentina, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Guinea, Israel, Iraq, Japan, Mali, Morocco, New Zealand. Paraguay, Spain, Ukraine, USA and Uzbekistan.
Guy Luzon’s U23 national side were draw into Group D together with Mali, Paraguay, and Japan. The top two seeds of each group qualify for the Quarter Finals which will be played on August 2nd, with the winners facing each other in the Semi Finals on August 5th. The battle for bronze will be played on August 8th while the Final which will decide what country wins the Silver and Gold medals set for the Parce de Princess on August 9th.
