Argentine forward Angel Correa. (Photo : Getty Images)
Group D teams Argentina and Algeria will try to bounce back from their opening round losses to finally get themselves into the win column in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics men's football competitions. They meet at the Estádio Olímpico João Havelange in Rio de Janeiro this Sunday, August 7 to continue their campaign.
Argentina has much to lose in this match as they were predicted by football pundits in pre-Olympics analyses to advance in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The Albicelestes were blanked by European rivals Portugal, 0-2, in their opening game on Thursday also in the same venue to put their Olympic stint to a disappointing start, as per Daily Mail Online.
Portugal's Goncalo Paciencia and Pite were left out to score one goal each in the second half of the match as they were able to keep the game scoreless in the first 66 minutes of play.
Atletico Madrid striker Angel Correa, who was deemed as the anchor of head coach Julio Olarticoechea's offense, was effectively defended by the Portuguese as he failed to produce a goal for his home country during the match.
Meanwhile, Algeria dropped a heartbreaking 2-3 decision to Honduras in their own opening round game also in Rio last Thursday, NBC Olympics reported.
The Hondurans drew first blood in the contest as forward Romell Quioto netted the opening goal at the 13th minute. His teammate, Marcelo Pereira, then directed an assist from defender Kevin Alvarez towards goalkeeper Farid Chaal, which found the back of the net to make it a 2-0 count at the 33rd.
Algeria fought back in the second half with a goal from right winger Sofiane Bendebka at the 68th from a pass by striker Baghdad Bounedjah, but Honduras netted another one again at the 79th, courtesy of Anthony Lozano to regain the two-point advantage.
Head coach Pierre-André Schürmann's side was able to net a consolation one with five minutes remaining before full time as it was Bounedjah's turn to score, but it left them short of a comeback as they lost their tourney-opener.
The predicted result is a 1-0 win for Argentina.
Argentina starting lineup (4-4-1-1 formation): Rulli; Magallan, Gianetti, Cuesta, Soto; Gomez, Ascacibar, Martinez, Espinoza; Correa; Calleri
Algeria starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Chaal; Benguit, Demmou, Kenniche, Ferhani; Bendebka, Ait-Atmane, Belkebla; Benkablia, Bounedjah, Haddouche
