Argentina 0-2 Morocco – Olympic football: Live score, team news and updates as Soufiane Rahimi adds a second from the spot

Argentina have made a change, with Giovanni Simeone replacing Zenon.

Morocco blink too, with Abde Ezzalzouli coming on for Akhomach, who just picked up a knock.

The substitute ends up running straight into the referee for some reason.

A chance for Rahimi to secure his hat-trick but it’s an easy save.

Rahimi oozes confidence. He is staring dead into Rulli’s eyes and smashes it into the bottom corner. No chance for the goalkeeper, who can’t keep it out despite going the right way.

Argentina are in trouble.

Rahimi will take. He stares down Rulli… AND SCORES!

The Eurosport commentator has just highlighted that groups of fans have gathered by the entrance to try and get as close to the pitch as possible. Doesn’t look great.

Richardson carries the ball and it’s Akhomach who hits the deck under a challenge from Soler! Penalty to Morocco!

We are back for the second half in the hunt for the first three points of the Olympics.

I had the sentence typed about how bad that half of football was. But the goal changed everything.

Morocco will likely sit back now, but they have defended well so far, and Argentina, in all honesty, look a bit lost.

This second half just got interesting.

In the other game, Eldor Shomurodov of Roma has upset the odds but equalising for Uzbekistan against Spain from the penalty spot.

One of the Uzbekistan players was literally on his knees as the spot kick was taken.

We could have two upsets on the cards to kick off the Olympics!

And that is the last action of the half!

It was a drab 45 minutes, but it came alive towards the end with the goal, which was the first shot on target.

Work for Argentina to do. They haven’t been great at all.

A goal that this game, to be honest, didn’t deserve!

Akhomach holds his pass and he backheels it to El Azzouzi. His cross is low and powerful, and Rahimi pokes in from close range.

Great goal, and the stadium erupts. Right before half time too!

El Khannouss is booked in the celebrations.

Zenon finds Alvarez but his cross is blocked.

Morocco end the half with the ball… and they lead! It’s Rahimi!

Lucy Ward, Eurosport, at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard:

This game has a lot of things in it, but it needs a goal. Entice the team that goes down to come out.

It has been exciting. Since both teams have pressed higher, they have forced mistakes.

The half is drawing to a close now and Morocco look keen to get to the break at 0-0.

A big bit of space for Argentina now, three on two, but Zenon shoots from distance and it’s blocked. Sums the half up.

Akhomach has let an arm swing in some afters with Soler and he goes into the book. It’s all a bit pathetic, to be honest, and I don’t blame the Morocco No 10 for being left in disbelief.

Alvarez is seeing a lot of the ball but looks a bit knackered, I can’t lie.

Morocco get in some trouble trying to play out from the back but they recover.

Hakimi breaks down tjhe right and wins a corner.

That goes in and is cleared. Then Beltran gives away another foul in a dangerous area.

There have been an number of fouls in this game so far, with there being no real flow since the first few minutes.

Rahimi hits the deck holding his face but the referee waves play on. Otamendi isn’t happy – boos ring around the ground.

Both players were using their arms. Not a foul for me.

We have the first goal of the Olympics in the capital and Marc Pubill has given Spain the lead after 23 minutes against Uzbekistan.

You feel that will be their first of a few goals for Spain today.

Soler heads down a cross and Beltran does really well to control the ball in the box, but he tries one trick too many and loses the ball.

Up the other end, Morocco break but the cross is behind the attacker and runs out for a goal kick.

Another free kick for Argentina as Richardson takes out Beltran. He gets a talking to from the Swedish referee, because that’s not the first time he’s done that.

Free kick goes in. It’s a good cross, but Otamendi heads wide.

No shots on target as of yet. Morocco defending well.

Akhomach fires well wide as Morocco struggle to progress the ball up the pitch. A lot of energy in the Argentina team.

No efforts of note so far. Alvarez and Hakimi clash again to break up the play.

Soler gives the ball away in the middle of the park but Argentina again win it back. A low cross goes in, but the flag is up. He’s about eight miles onside so I’m not sure why – awful officiating.

Morocco are standing firm with their out-of-possession 4-2-3-1 so far.

It’s now slowed right down from the fast start.

The game, as expected, has now slowed down a bit.

It’s scrappy in the middle of the park with both players willing to throw themselves about.

Not much quality on show so far. An Argentina cross – it may have been a shot – flies over.

Lucy Ward, Eurosport, at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard:

Argentina see the possibility to press high and they will if the triggers are there.

You can see where the space is because both teams are narrow. Move it quickly but keep the ball on the field if you can.

Lucy Ward has just said on Eurosport commentary that Morocco aren’t afraid, and I think that’s a great summary so far.

It’s full speed ahead. It won’t carry on like this, but what a start.

Soler goes to ground after tajing a whack to the face.

Hakimi takes the corner and itr’s cleared. Argentina can break, but Hakimi sweeps up. A good start from the PSG man.

This time Beltran breaks but again he loses possession.

Now we settle into a pattern with the South Americans controlling the ball.

Boos from the crowd with some early Argentina possession.

Morocco start well, though. Rahimi, the veteran forward, floats a cross in and it’s out on the other side for a throw.

Ther’s a foul on the right now and Soler fouls Hakimi on the right.

Chance to whip the ball in… calls for a handball against Alvarez – there is VAR – but it’s a corner.

The Olympic Games are underway!

Neither of these sides played at Tokyo 2020, so they are looking to make their marks here. Although Argentina won in both 2004 and 2008…

Time for the anthems, with the teams now on the pitch.

Lots of boos for the Argentina anthem in France…

From Henry WInter. Julian Alvarez’s season will have lasted a year by the time the Olympics finish, should Argentina go far.

This number isn’t actually accurate, with the 24-year-old playing on in the Olympics.

I guess he got a nine-day break? At least City aren’t in pre-season or anything…

There is a bit of an astrisk, if you will, hanging over Argentina following their Copa America win last week.

They had just established themselves as the dominant team in men’s international football, when midfielder Enzo Fernandez filmed himself singing what has been branded a ‘racist’ song aimed at some France players.

Team-mates have hit back and there are all sorts of investigations going on. Click below to find out more.

Think of a simpler Euro 2024.

There are 16 teams involved. Four groups, and the top two in each group will progress to the knockouts.

There will then be the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and the final.

Why is all football not this simple?

The belows is a grab from the Olympics website, showing Group A.

El Kajoui, Hakimi, Boukamir, Ben Seghir, El Khannouss, Rahimi, Akhomach, El Ouahdi, Targhalline, El Azzouzi, Richardson.

PSG’s Achraf Hakimi starts at right back and captains the side.

Saint-Etienne’s Benjamin Bouchouari is only on the bench in the stadium where he plays his club football.

Rulli, Garcia, Di Cesare, Otamendi, Soler, Zenon, Almada, Medina, Hezze, Beltran, Alvarez.

Javier Mascherano hands all of his big names a start.

As well as the over 23 trio, Thiago Almada will also feature in Paris.

In an Under-23 tournament, that’s not bad.

With Sky Bet, Argentina are 5/2 to win gold – second favourites behind France. Morocco are fourth at 10/1.

So this game is important. And I believe team news is on the way, with 50 minutes to go until kick off.

Argentina have been the most successful men’s team of the last few years by some stretch.

They have won back to back Copa Americas, as well as the World Cup in 2022 under, essentially, the leadership of Lionel Messi.

Now they want the Olympics.

Of course, only three players over the age of 23 can be named, and Messi unfortunately won’t be there. But goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, Julian Alvarez and Nicolas Otamendi will be.

Alvarez won the Copa America just nine days ago…

Hello one and all and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of the men’s football in the Olympics!

The opening ceremony is two days away, but there’s no time to wait and we get underway with Argentina vs Morocco this afternoon.

Spain vs Uzbekistan kicks off at the same time, but we’re going to focus on the first game, with a few stars potentially on show.

Team news isn’t far away, so stick with us and we’ll bring you all the latest from Saint Etienne this afternoon.