<p>The Matildas 2024 Olympic campaign got off to the worst possible start as they lost their opening match to Germany 3-0.</p> <p>This result means it’s panic stations already for Australia in their pursuit of an inaugural Olympic football medal.</p> <p>With their goal difference now in tatters and only two games left to secure their passage to the knockout stages, their upcoming game against Zambia is officially a must win.</p> <p>Can they do it? Or does more heartache await for Australia? For the latest news, lineups, odds, predictions, and betting tips for Australia’s next Olympic match, check out our Matildas vs Zambia Preview below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Matildas Predicted Lineup</h2> <p>&nbsp;After their humbling at the hands of Germany last time out, we expect at least a few changes to Australia’s starting side for their match against Zambia.</p> <p>The Matildas frontline failed to gel and create enough meaningful chances in their Olympic opener, while the defence was also caught cold on a number of occasions.</p> <p>How will head coach Tony Gustavsson remedy these problems? Or will he keep faith and back the same starting side to bounce back here against Zambia? Here’s how we think the Matildas will line up on Monday morning.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Australia predicted lineup: </strong><em>Mackenzie Arnold (GK), Ellie Carpenter (vc), Alanna Kennedy, Clare Hunt, Steph Catley (c), Hayley Raso, Clare Wheeler, Emily van Egmond (vc), Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Michelle Heyman.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Matildas vs Zambia Match Preview</h2> <p>Despite a 3-0 loss to Germany to kickstart their Olympics campaign, the Matildas are astronomical favourites heading into this clash.</p> <p>Perceived as minnows, Zambia should be categorised more as an unproved quantity as they do possess quality within their ranks.</p> <p>Namely leading lady Barbra Banda, who is one of the top strikers in the NWSL. The Orlando Pride forward has a knack for scoring a lot of goals for both club and country and will be looking to cause the Matildas defence plenty of headaches in this clash.</p> <p>Outside of Banda there is little other proven quality in this Zambia side, as shown in their own 3-0 loss to the USA in the opening game at these Olympics.</p> <p>This game presents the perfect opportunity for Australia to return to the winner’s circle and get their confidence back, as long as Tony G can get his defensive ducks in a row and contain Banda.</p> <p>We also anticipate somewhat of a tactical shift here, with the high press that was deployed against Germany to be parked for a more direct style, which could lead to someone like Michelle Heyman getting the nod to lead the line and provide a target upfront.</p> <p>All in all, we are predicting a high-tempo and open game that should yield enough goals to keep everyone entertained. But a game that most importantly Australia should win.</p> <p><strong>Prediction</strong>: <em>2-1 Australia.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Matildas vs Zambia Betting Tips &amp; Predictions</h2> <h3>Head-to-Head (H2H)</h3> <p>At the time of writing Zambia are paying a staggering 21.00* in the H2H market to win this one. It would take a brave soul indeed to back them in what would surely be one of the upsets of the tournament.</p> <p>That being said, we don’t think it will be as plain sailing for the Matildas as the odds suggest. We are backing them to win here, but not without causing a few Green and Gold heart palpitations first.</p> <p><em>Odds are subject to change*</em></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Australia.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Goal</h3> <p>We simply can’t see superstar Mary Fowler not scoring at some point during these Olympics and if there was ever a game to open the scoring in, this is it.</p> <p>While Fowler is our pick for first goal scorer if everything goes according to plan and it is the Matildas who do score first, there is plenty of merit in backing a certain Zambian superstar to steal Fowler’s thunder.</p> <p>We are of course talking about the aforementioned Barbra Banda. The 24-year-old is currently Africa’s all-time top goal scorer in Olympic history.</p> <p>In Tokyo she became the first women’s footballer in Olympics history to score back-to-back hat tricks and the first to score two hat tricks in one tournament.</p> <p>There’s no doubting that she knows how to find the back of the net on this stage and against an Aussie defence fresh off shipping three to Germany could be the one to break the deadlock here.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <em>Mary Fowler or Barbra Banda.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Over/Under</h3> <p>For better or worse it appears there will be plenty of goals in games involving the Matildas at the 2024 Olympics.</p> <p>The over hit in their opener against Germany, to Australia’s detriment and we’re backing it to go off again here, just this time with the Tillies on the right side of the 2.5+ goals scoreline.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <em>Over 2.5 goals.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Matildas vs Zambia Match Details</h2> <p><strong>Date:</strong> <em>Monday, July 29, 2024.</em></p> <p><strong>Location:</strong><em> Stade de Nice.</em></p> <p><strong>Kick-off: </strong><em>3:00am AEST.</em></p> <p><strong>Where to watch:</strong><em> Nine Network, Stan Sport.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Sportsbet is not a sponsor of, and does not have any association with, the Australian Olympic Committee, the Olympic Games or the Australian Olympic Team and is not a sponsor of the Olympic Games.</em></p>