Greece vs Canada Prediction & Betting Tips - Men's Olympic Tournament

Prediction published on 26/07/2024, 13:46  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 26/07/2024 at 15:30 in Men's Olympic Tournament Predictions

Canada will begin their Paris 2024 Olympics Basketball campaign against Greece in Group A on Saturday. This group also has Spain and Australia. Read on for our preview and a prediction for the match.

Greece last appeared at the Olympics in 2008 where they finished fifth for the third time in a row. Vassilis Spanoulis’ men will hope on their return they can at the very least maintain this run. The Beloved were in splendid form in the build-up to this tournament.

Led by star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece have won 10 of their last 11 games. They were on a 10-match winning run before losing 94-72 to Serbia in their last friendly fixture. The European nation will be without two of the three Antetokounmpo brothers due to injury. Thanasis was ruled out back in May while younger brother Kostas succumbed to a knee injury earlier this week.

Canada have one of the most star-studded squads in Paris. The team’s 12-man roster is filled with players plying their trade in the NBA. Kelly Olynyk captains the team that also has Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Lu Dort, and Dwight Powell among others.

This lineup has many believing that Canada can effectively challenge the USA’s Olympic dominance. Jordi Fernandez’s men qualified for this year’s tournament via their FIBA World Cup record. They finished third at last year’s showpiece.

The North Americans, who won Silver in their Olympic debut in 1936, last played at the Summer Games 24 years ago in Sydney. Though they haven’t been Olympic regulars, Canada have performed strongly whenever they have been at the games.

They qualified for the knockout rounds in each of their last four appearances, twice making it to the semis. Canada have won 10 of their last 13 matches.