France vs USA Prediction and Betting Tips: Back Michael Olise to net first in Marseille

Hosts France begin their campaign in the Men's Olympic football tournament on Wednesday when they take on the USA in Marseille.

After missing out on Euro 2024 glory, France will hope to salvage some silverware from this summer by claiming Olympic gold on home soil.

Gold medalists in Los Angeles in 1984, they also have a renowned winner in charge, with 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 hero Thierry Henry in the dugout.

The tournament falling outside of the international window means several of the players he would have wanted to include have not been released by their clubs but there is still plenty of quality available to Henry.

USA fell short at the Copa America and they too have a bit of a scratch side but with fewer recognisable names due to the majority of their under-23s being based Stateside.

However, boss Marko Mitrovic has made a career of moulding young groups of players and like all US teams, they will make up for their lack of talent by being organised and energetic.

France are the favourites to win Olympic gold and will be looking to lay down a marker with an opening victory in Marseille. However, that type of pressure could lead to a cagey performance, especially with USA likely to set themselves up in a low block and force Les Bleus to try to play through them.

France should still have enough, though. Their squad looks to have a nice attacking blend, with dynamic dribblers such as Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki, a proper target man in Jean-Philippe Mateta, and the arch-poacher extraordinaire, captain Alexandre Lacazette.

Henry will have been drilling his players hard, but it is inevitable that they will take a while to gel before their class starts to show, and they may have to grind out an opening victory at the Stade Velodrome.

Despite being generally underappreciated at international level throughout his career, Lacazette's nous and ability to find space in the box could be France's golden ticket but Olise is the most likely individual to inject spark into his country's attack.

The 22-year-old was born in London and grew up in England so his development has almost gone under the radar in France but he has always been committed to representing Les Bleus, which he is eligible to do through his French-Algerian mother, and has done through the age groups.

After a brilliant spell at Crystal Palace where, when not injured, he and Eberechi Eze inspired the side, his form has earned him a move to Bayern Munich.

Things look to be on the up for Olise and having been limited to only 19 appearances in 2023/24, he may still be relatively fresh and has scored three times in as many caps for Henry's side.

His ability to slalom through stubborn defences makes him a candidate to break the deadlock once the US rearguard begins to tir