Argentina Soccer Gold Medal Favorites
South Americans Seek Repeat of Gold in Olympics
The outright dismissal of other contenders such as Brazil, Netherlands and Ivory Coast has been a little baffling, considering Nigeria took the gold in 1996 and Cameroon captured the prize four years later. With that being said, Argentina dominated the last time out in Athens to capture gold and this 2008 version may be even better now that Lionel Messi has finally arrived in the Far East.
The biggest problem for Argentina is fitting all this talent into the starting eleven. From Juan Riquelme to Sergio Aguero to Javier Mascherano to Messi, lesser known talents like Fernando Gago and Jose Sosa may find it hard to grab any of the spotlight.
Little Known Olympic Fact
Ironically, the Olympic soccer competition has been around longer than the World Cup by 22 years, but you wouldn’t know that with the way fans and media treat the two tournaments and rightly so. The point is further driven home when you consider the Europeans do not take the tourney that seriously and the Brazilians only started to recently. Interestingly enough, the Selecao have never won a gold and did not even make the tournament in Athens, letting Paraguay go instead.
Brazil's Quest For Gold
Still, the Brazilians have assembled a squad than can dismantle any opponent, especially if the underperforming Ronaldinho can recapture the form that made him one of the world’s best. The team is also stacked with midfield maestro Diego pulling strings in the midfield and two young forwards in Jo and Alexandre Pato buzzing in and around the opponent’s 18-yard box. Fans who do not take in a steady diet of the German Bundesliga should keep their sites on Rafinha--the Schalke 04 defender who will get into the attack and squash all doubts about there not being another Roberto Carlos or Cafu.
Boys in Orange Boast Talent
Not much has been said about the Netherlands as a potential threat and coach Foppe de Haan would probably like it that way. The Dutch utilized the three overage player rule by selecting Roy Makaay, a player who has bagged goals everywhere he has played. Although not quite ready for the senior team, Liverpool’s Ryan Babel and Valencia’s Hedwiges Maduro will get a chance on center stage to show they belong. Overlooked in all these offensive options is the naturalized Jonathan De Guzman--a gritty midfielder who can cover a ton of space and plug holes when other teammates go forward.
Superb Trio Represents West Africa
African teams are usually the wildcard when it comes to any international tournament since you never know what kind of side will show up. Will it be the team that dazzles opponents with slick footwork and stunning individual play or the team that takes stupid red cards and then consequently self destructs? Cameroon, Nigeria and Ivory Coast are arguably the best trio the continent has ever sent to the Olympics, highlighting yet again the talent that continues to pour out of West Africa. Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou will have to shine in order for the Elephants to even think about the medal round, while forward Peter Odemwingie and defender Taye Taiwo are a pair of talents for the Super Eagles who can raise their profiles in Europe with a solid tournament.
Spoiling The Party
While slightly below the favorites, teams like Italy and the United States can throw a monkey wrench into the plans of any team . Failing to send any overage players to China, the Italians are still very dangerous when it comes to these types of tournaments and fans will get to see what the future senior team may look like. Even the United States has assembled its best Olympic side ever, although the lack of goals in two warm-up matches in Hong Kong could be foreshadowing of an early exit.
So will Messi & Company take gold for the second straight time or will Brazil finally end the drought and add to an already-cluttered trophy case? We will see.
