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| Olympic Football Tournament | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 20 2008, 07:29 AM (2,343 Views) | |
| rosarino | Apr 20 2008, 07:29 AM Post #1 |
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Here is the draw for the Olympic Football Tournament: Group A Argentina Australia Serbia Ivory Coast Group B Holland Nigeria Japan United States Group C Brazil China New Zealand Belgium Group D Italy South Korea Cameroon Honduras I think Italy and Brazil must be thanking their luck that they were drawn into relatively easier groups. Defending champions Argentina got an extremely difficult draw against Euro runner up Serbia, Ivory Coast and an ever improving Australia. European champions Holland didn't get an easy one either with Nigeria, Japan and the US but for me Group A is this tournament's Group of Death. |
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| abbey | Apr 20 2008, 02:51 PM Post #2 |
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These are the teams I am picking to advance to the second round: Group A - Argentina (1), Ivory Coast (2) Group B - Nigeria (1), Holland (2) Group C - Brazil (1), Belgium (2) Group D - Italy (1), Cameroon (2) |
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| xeneize | Apr 20 2008, 10:38 PM Post #3 |
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I like your selections abbey, and welcome to the message board, but it is a little early I think to prognosticate the Olympic tournament until we see the rosters each team will have. I agree with rosarino though that Groups A & B look the toughest while Brazil's Group C is the easiest. Funny how Argentina's opponents will look familiar, they were in the same group with Australia and Serbia in Athens 04 and in the same group with Serbia and Ivory Coast at Germany 06! |
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| Manzanares | Apr 21 2008, 08:00 AM Post #4 |
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I'm disappointed Spain didn't qualify as we have a talented U-23 bunch of players but I see xeneizes point that it might be difficult to pick the group winners until we know what overage reinforcements each country will bring to China. But having said that I think abbey's predictions look pretty accurate but I would think both Serbia and Australia and United States and Japan can challenge for a 2nd round spot in their groups which is why I agree with xeneize that Groups A and B look very difficult. I too welcome abbey to the message board and think he'll enjoy the variety of discussions we have here. |
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| raconteur | Apr 21 2008, 09:49 AM Post #5 |
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Holland looked really good last summer winning the European U-21 title and they must be considered a contender in these Olympics. Nigeria always have plenty of talent too but I think I'd reverse abbey's picks and place Holland first and Nigeria second in their group. But don't count the US out either as they will put a lot of emphasis on these Olympic Games and likely will be one of the best prepared teams at the Olympics. Add Landon Donovan, a centerback and either a veteran goalie or a left back and the US will be a tricky team to play in Beijing. And don't forget Italy who will have a lot of talent like Nocerino, Montolivo, Rossi, Acquafresca, etc. But the favorites have to be Argentina and Brazil who'll bring teams which will closely resemble their full national teams. Glad to have you join us abbey. |
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| SuperEagle | Apr 21 2008, 01:49 PM Post #6 |
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I'm excited for this Olympic tournament but am a little disappointed Nigeria and the US got drawn together in the same group and with a team like Holland added there too which makes that an extremely complicated sector. I like Samson Siasia's team and with the right overage additions I think they can play a major role in this competition. But I never underestimate the US in a youth level competiion, they're always well prepared like raconteur wrote and in Freddy Adu they have a player who makes a difference on the field. But Nigeria have seen players like he before and it should be a good battle between those two and Holland for the two qualifying spots out of this group. I will wait to I see which players these countries will be bringing along before making any predictions but I like those that abbey made. I'll join in and welcome him to the discussion, sounds like I have another Nigerian joining us here! Welcome. |
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| Merengue | Apr 21 2008, 04:06 PM Post #7 |
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A fascinating draw for this Olympic tournament. I'm in the camp that it may be hard to predict these groups until we see what overage players will be joining the squads but aside form traditional favorites Argentina and Brasil, I think Holland, Italy, Nigeria and Cameroon have to be considered contenders if they include some of the overage players being rumored for inclusion on their teams. As for the US, well they could be a good team led by Adu but they'll need someone to finish if they're to advance. Looking forward to seeing who will be included on these squads and of course to the competition itself. Welcome to abbey. Glad to have you join our debates and we all look forward to your future contributions. |
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| xeneize | Apr 22 2008, 01:45 PM Post #8 |
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Practically every tournament Brazil gets a relatively easy draw. Not only that but if as expected they win their group they'll then play a relatively weak 2nd place team from Group D. Argentina meanwhile is not only in a difficult first round group but then they'll likely have to face off against a good team from the also competitive Group B. With the team I'm expecting Argentina to use though in China, I think they can overcome those obstacles. I am really looking forward to this tournament and to see how Sergio Batista will do directing this Argentina team. |
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| SuperEagle | Jul 8 2008, 03:24 PM Post #9 |
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We are less than a month away from the start of the Olympic football tournament. Argentina, Brazil and Italy have all announced their teams for the competition. Those teams are discussed more in depth in those countries' respective forums but I also discuss the prospects for Nigeria, who have not yet named it's team, in the Africa forum. I am awaiting Nigeria and the other African teams naming their Olympic squads. I think this will be a competitive tournament. Argentina, Brazil and Italy are each sending very strong looking teams on paper. |
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| libero | Jul 15 2008, 08:42 AM Post #10 |
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Here is Holland's team: Goalkeepers: Velthuizen (Vitesse Arnhem), Vermeer (Ajax) Defenders: Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Jong-A-Pin (Heerenveen), Luijckx (AZ Alkmaar), Marcellis, Pieters (both PSV Eindhoven), Zuiverloon (West Bromwich Albion) Midfielders: Bakkal (PSV Eindhoven), Emanuelson (Ajax), De Guzman (Feyenoord), Maduro (Valencia), Sno (Celtic) Forwards: Beerens (Heerenveen), Babel (Liverpool), Drenthe (Real Madrid), Makaay (Feyenoord), Sibon (Heerenveen). Gerald Sibon, Roy Makaay and Kew Jaliens are the three over age players. |
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| Gunners | Jul 16 2008, 06:02 AM Post #11 |
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In addition to the overage players, Hedwiges Maduro and Urby Emanuelson have seen significant playing time in the senior side. Should be a very good team. |
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| enganche | Jul 20 2008, 10:28 PM Post #12 |
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CONCACAF Champions Honduras named their team, in addition to U-23 regulars like midfielders Hendry Thomas and Ramon Nunez and forward Georgie Welcome, their three overage players are centerback Samuel Caballero, midfielder Emil Martinez and forward Carlos Pavon. Caballero and Martinez already play for Chinese clubs so they won't have far to travel! |
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| Yogi | Jul 21 2008, 11:49 AM Post #13 |
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In another thread garbaggio provided this excellent link with an update of the current Olympic rosters: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_at_t...27s_team_squads Teams have until July 23 to name their final squads. The most recent update is Serbia's. They are the current European U-21 runnerup so should have a pretty competitive team in this tournament. They only named one overage player, Sporting Lisbon goalie Vladimir Stojkovic to their roster. But players like Lazio left back Aleksandr Kolarov, Nantes forward Filip Djordjevic and partizan midfielder Zoran Tosic all were star performers at the last European U-21 championships. Belgium were semifinalists in that same competition and they too only will have one over age player, midfielder Maarten Maartens of Alkmaar. Also on Belgium's team are notable players such as defender Vincent Kompany of Hamburg and wingback/midfielder Anthony Vanden Borre of Genoa and striker Kevin Mirallas of Lille. |
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| Pepe | Jul 21 2008, 03:34 PM Post #14 |
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Robinho has a groin injury and Real Madrid are now prohibiting him from playing in the Olympics. This is a huge blow for Brazil and his place on the roster will be taken by Ramires. But don't feel too sorry for Robinho, he's likely going to get a large salary raise by Real Madrid! |
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| Nkono | Jul 21 2008, 07:31 PM Post #15 |
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Cameroon have the same problem as Brazil as Marseille are prohibiting Modeste Mbami from joining the Olympic team. It looks like the Lions are waiting to the last minute to name their team. Mbia, Nguemo, Alex Song and Bikey who all played on the national team in the African Nations Cup are all U-23 players and will be on the Olympic team. Also expected to be on the squad is Christian Bekamanga, the forward who scored at will in qualifying and who recently signed with newly promoted Nantes in France. |
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