Olympic football tournament

There's already a thread for the Olympics on the Off-topic board, but the football tourney def. deserves its own. Little over a month to go.

Afaik, Argentina are the first to announce their squad. Spectacular talent level throughout the squad, but also an extensive collection of midgets. I wonder if they'll be mentally strong enough to win the tournament outright.

Lista de convocados:
Porteros: Oscar Ustari (Getafe) y Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar).

Defensas: Pablo Zabaleta (Espanyol), Luciano Monzón (Boca Juniors),
Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Nicolás Burdisso (Inter Milan),
Federico Fazio (Sevilla) y Lautaro Acosta (Sevilla).

Centrocampistas: Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Juan Román Riquelme (Boca Juniors),
Ever Banega (Valencia), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool) y José Sosa (Bayern Munich)

Delanteros: Diego Buonanotte (River Plate), Sergio Agüero (Atlético Madrid),
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Nápoles) y Angel Di Maria (Benfica).

Suplentes: Nicolás Navarro (Nápoles), Lucas Biglia (Anderlecht),
Nicolás Pareja (Anderlecht) y Emiliano Insúa (Liverpool).

For clarity : Argentina's "dispensation / compensation" players are

Nicolás Burdisso, Javier Mascherano & Juan Román Riquelme

Thanks, was wondering that myself. Esp. Mascherano, wasn't sure if he's over 23 or not.

What about making one for the men and one for the females? Or will discussions for both be acceptable here without being whipped?

for some reason i couldnt care less about football at the olympics..doesnt interest me in the slightest..never has...odd really..

Don't only Argentina and Brazil take this seriously?

So annoying that Mascherano is going to miss the beginning of the season.

Who played for Spain in 1992 and has the Olympics ever marked a breakthrough into big-time for any player after it?

Holland preparation schedule (all matches v other countries participating):

23/07 20.30 CET Belgium v Holland

ING Cup Hong Kong

30/07 14.45 CET Cameroon v Holland (12.30 USA v Ivory Coast)
02/08 13.30 CET Ivory Coast v Holland (11.00 USA v Cameroon)

------

Dutch manager De Haan has called up the follwoing 30 players for 2 trianingsessions (1/7 & 8/7) in preparation for the Olympics. The key activity will be a physical fitness test.

1/8:

Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse), Kenneth Vermeer (Willem II), Ryan Donk (AZ), Henrico Drost (sc Heerenveen), Tom Hiariej (FC Groningen), Kew Jaliens (AZ), Calvin Jong-A-Pin (sc Heerenveen), Christian Kum (ADO Den Haag), Erik Pieters (FC Utrecht), Frank van der Struijk (Willem II), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gianni Zuiverloon (sc Heerenveen), Wout Brama (FC Twente), Lorenzo Davids (NEC), Urby Emanuelson (Ajax), Siem de Jong (Ajax), Kees Luijckx (AZ), Evander Sno (Celtic), Istvan Bakx (KV Kortrijk), Roy Beerens (sc Heerenveen), Marvin Emnes (Sparta Rotterdam), Jeremain Lens (NEC).

8/7:

Dirk Marcellis (PSV), Ismaïl Aissati (PSV), Otman Bakkal (PSV), Luigi Bruins (Feyenoord), Jonathan de Guzman (Feyenoord), Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia), Nordin Amrabat (PSV), Roy Makaay (Feyenoord).

EMP wrote:Who played for Spain in 1992 and has the Olympics ever marked a breakthrough into big-time for any player after it?

Guardiola? Luis Enrique?

Riviera wrote:What about making one for the men and one for the females? Or will discussions for both be acceptable here without being whipped?

Didn't you like being whipped ?

Z wrote:Don't only Argentina and Brazil take this seriously?

Most don't use the option to bring in any high profile over 23 year old players, aside from that the squads in general are as strong as they can be.

@ JdG : any idea why Sibon isn't on your list ?

I thought Makaay, Sibon & Jaliens would be Holland's dispensation/compensation players...

Casiraghi annouces his provisional squad - only one overage player in Rocchi! Also surprised not to see Curci, Santacroce and Osvaldo not selected in the main squad. While Curci and Osvaldo were expected as they have played for the Azzurrini before, I am mostly disappointed re Santacroce - he hasn't been given enough chances even for the Azzurrini, when he clearly is Italys best defensive talent for the future...

Italy’s provisional Olympic squad:

Abate (Milan), Acquafresca (Cagliari), Bocchetti (Genoa), Candreva (Udinese), Cigarini (Parma), Coda (Udinese), Consigli (Atalanta), Criscito (Genoa), De Ceglie (Juventus), De Silvestri (Lazio), Dessena (Parma), Giovinco (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Motta (Udinese), Nocerino (Palermo), Ranocchia (Arezzo), Rocchi (Lazio), Rossi (Villarreal), Russotto (Treviso), Sirigu (Palermo), Viviano (Brescia)

Casiraghi has also submitted a short-list of 15 other players who can be called into the squad.

Alfonso (Venezia), Bassi (Empoli), Curci (Siena), Andreolli (Vicenza), Canini (Cagliari), Marzoratti (Empoli), Pisano (Cagliari), M Rossi (Parma), Bolzoni (Inter), Galloppa (Siena), Guarente (Atalanta), Morosini (Vicenza), Lanzafame (Palermo), Osvaldo (Fiorentina), Pelle’ (AZ Alkmaar)

Moto Guzzi V8 wrote:

EMP wrote:Who played for Spain in 1992 and has the Olympics ever marked a breakthrough into big-time for any player after it?

Guardiola? Luis Enrique?

Yes, they were both there. Other very recognizable names that were in the team: Abelardo, Kiko, Alfonso, Albert Ferrer, Santiago Cañizares, Emilio Amavisca.

How was that Olympics tournament greeted in Spain? Did anyone care about it?

Axeslammer wrote:@ JdG : any idea why Sibon isn't on your list ?

I thought Makaay, Sibon & Jaliens would be Holland's dispensation/compensation players...

haven't got a clue axe. Hardly any news on our Olympic squad lately. Maybe they are on holiday...

Some shock yesterday when I heard Zuiverloon moved to West Brom, had him down as 1 player that probably would push for a role in the national team. Btw does Siem have a chance of making the 1st XI at the Olympic Games?

Catorce wrote:Some shock yesterday when I heard Zuiverloon moved to West Brom, had him down as 1 player that probably would push for a role in the national team. Btw does Siem have a chance of making the 1st XI at the Olympic Games?

?!

Zuiverloon isn't even good enough for a starting place in Heerenveen 1, shouldn't be first choice for our U23 and will *never* make full Oranje IMO...

I think Siem does have enough quality, but he hardly played for Ajax and that will be hold against him. Can't see him make the first 11 unless there are some injuries or the team doesn't perform at all.

Axeslammer wrote:

Catorce wrote:Some shock yesterday when I heard Zuiverloon moved to West Brom, had him down as 1 player that probably would push for a role in the national team. Btw does Siem have a chance of making the 1st XI at the Olympic Games?

?!

Zuiverloon isn't even good enough for a starting place in Heerenveen 1, shouldn't be first choice for our U23 and will *never* make full Oranje IMO...

I think Siem does have enough quality, but he hardly played for Ajax and that will be hold against him. Can't see him make the first 11 unless there are some injuries or the team doesn't perform at all.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/7485573.stm

Given the shortage of RBs these days, maybe he had a chance. As for Siem it’s unfortunate he had a injury towards the end of last season + not getting may starts but featured in many games, despite that I thought he was one of the honest performers of last season and I think he will get many games under Van Basten. As for the Olympic team, he has been making some regular substitute appearances, probably be the same in Beijing.

Moto Guzzi V8 wrote:Holland preparation schedule (all matches v other countries participating):

23/07 20.30 CET Belgium v Holland

ING Cup Hong Kong

30/07 14.45 CET Cameroon v Holland (12.30 USA v Ivory Coast)
02/08 13.30 CET Ivory Coast v Holland (11.00 USA v Cameroon)

------

Dutch manager De Haan has called up the follwoing 30 players for 2 trianingsessions (1/7 & 8/7) in preparation for the Olympics. The key activity will be a physical fitness test.

1/8:

Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse), Kenneth Vermeer (Willem II), Ryan Donk (AZ), Henrico Drost (sc Heerenveen), Tom Hiariej (FC Groningen), Kew Jaliens (AZ), Calvin Jong-A-Pin (sc Heerenveen), Christian Kum (ADO Den Haag), Erik Pieters (FC Utrecht), Frank van der Struijk (Willem II), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gianni Zuiverloon (sc Heerenveen), Wout Brama (FC Twente), Lorenzo Davids (NEC), Urby Emanuelson (Ajax), Siem de Jong (Ajax), Kees Luijckx (AZ), Evander Sno (Celtic), Istvan Bakx (KV Kortrijk), Roy Beerens (sc Heerenveen), Marvin Emnes (Sparta Rotterdam), Jeremain Lens (NEC).

8/7:

Dirk Marcellis (PSV), Ismaïl Aissati (PSV), Otman Bakkal (PSV), Luigi Bruins (Feyenoord), Jonathan de Guzman (Feyenoord), Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia), Nordin Amrabat (PSV), Roy Makaay (Feyenoord).

Does this mean Babel won't be going or is there still a chance he will?

Losing too many players to this nonsense competition.

I find it absurd that the competition runs during this period, if anything it only disadvantages young players as they are not competiting at the club they play for, to get into the first team, and as a result could lose their place through another player cementing it down.

The organisers really have to like the ACON look to deliver the tournament at another point in time, if we took a winter break for example like many leagues do, then this could potentially solve these sort of problems... f@ck it, do away with the Carling Cup - don't even need to extend the season then

The whole Olympics should be moved to cater to European club football?

kas wrote:The whole Olympics should be moved to cater to European club football?

No. Imo it would be more fair if it was the opposite, but that ain't gonna happen.

It's a ridiculous perversion of the Olympic ideal to include professional sports. Many of the footballers at the Olypmics will be millionaires from playing football.

Football should never have been made an Olympic sport imo.

Most 'amateur' sports only have pros participating too. Everybody in Athletics also is pro nowdays. In all other teamsports most players are pros too. Hardly any athletes at the Olympics are amateurs nowadays.

Moto Guzzi V8 wrote:Most 'amateur' sports only have pros participating too. Everybody in Athletics also is pro nowdays. In all other teamsports most players are pros too. Hardly any athletes at the Olympics are amateurs nowadays.

And if they are they have absolutely no chance of getting a medal in most sports.

Whats the likely first 11 for the Jong Oranje team? I'd go for:

-------------Veltheyzen-------------
-Van Der Wiel---Marcellis---Donk-
---------------Roorda---------------
-------Aissati--------Bruins--------
De Guzman---Amrabat---Drenthe


And thats without guys like Urby, Siem De Jong, Barazite and Sibon. Then there's guys like Makaay and Babel. Shaping up to be one of the better teams in the competition.

I added Van Der Wiel for Rai's benefit.

Danielino wrote:Whats the likely first 11 for the Jong Oranje team? I'd go for:

-------------Veltheyzen-------------
-Van Der Wiel---Marcellis---Donk-
---------------Roorda---------------
-------Aissati--------Bruins--------
De Guzman---Amrabat---Drenthe


And thats without guys like Urby, Siem De Jong, Barazite and Sibon. Then there's guys like Makaay and Babel. Shaping up to be one of the better teams in the competition.

I added Van Der Wiel for Rai's benefit.

That's nowhere near the *likely* starting 11

I expect Lens over Amrabat, Hiariej as RB and Beerens as LM/LW.

With Drenthe on the left and Beerens on the right, the flanks will be well covered

Moto Guzzi V8 wrote:Most 'amateur' sports only have pros participating too. Everybody in Athletics also is pro nowdays. In all other teamsports most players are pros too. Hardly any athletes at the Olympics are amateurs nowadays.

the olympics should be just the more 'athletic' or strength type of sports...from running to rowing..but things like tennis or football just should not be there.

Axeslammer wrote:

Danielino wrote:Whats the likely first 11 for the Jong Oranje team? I'd go for:

-------------Veltheyzen-------------
-Van Der Wiel---Marcellis---Donk-
---------------Roorda---------------
-------Aissati--------Bruins--------
De Guzman---Amrabat---Drenthe


And thats without guys like Urby, Siem De Jong, Barazite and Sibon. Then there's guys like Makaay and Babel. Shaping up to be one of the better teams in the competition.

I added Van Der Wiel for Rai's benefit.

That's nowhere near the *likely* starting 11

I expect Lens over Amrabat, Hiariej as RB and Beerens as LM/LW.

With Drenthe on the left and Beerens on the right, the flanks will be well covered

Hence me saying "I'd go for". I have no idea what the likey starting team is, that's why I asked.

I just made a team of players I knew and had seen play.