Lionel Messi Olympic Games
Barcelona Refuse To Let Messi Play for Argentina in Olympics
The Argentine F.A and Barcelona have yet to come to an agreement, and Lionel Messi's Olympic Games participation looks in doubt.
Messi Trains With Barcelona In Scotland
Although the Olympic Games soccer competition begins in August, Lionel Messi has yet to join the Argentine national team squad, and he continues to train with Barcelona in Scotland.
The directors of the Argentine national team insist that Messi will finally participate in the competition, however, Barca refuse to give in, and are confident that he will remain with the Barcelona squad as they prepare for a vital UEFA Champions League qualifier.
On Monday, Messi commenced training with Barcelona, and at the same time Sergio Batista's squad travelled to Japan to prepare for the Olympic Games. Argentina's first match of the competition will be against the Ivory Coast on the 7th of August. Before hand, Argentina will face Japan on the 29th of July.
FIFA and the Olympic Committee Defend Argentina
Barcelona have refused to release Messi, despite the fact that he is 23-years-old and has full right to compete in the competition with his national team. The Olympic Games Committee and FIFA (soccer's world governing body) are in favour of Messi's participation, and a final outcome should be announced by the end of the week.
Messi has affirmed that he would be delighted to join the Argentina camp, but he also realizes that Barcelona pay his wages, and if they refuse to let him go he will continue to train with the squad looking ahead to their upcoming UEFA Champions League qualifier and the La Liga season.
In recent days FIFA president Joseph Blatter declared that all players under the age of 23 should be liberated from their clubs for the competition, a statement that has made Argentina's possibilities of counting with Messi significantly greater.
"The liberation of under-23 players has always been obligatory for all clubs. This principal has also been implied for Beijing 2008," he said.
Argentina Favourites to Win the Gold Medal
On paper Argentina are without doubt the best team in the competition. The Argentines, who beat Paraguay in the final for the Gold Medal in Athens 2004, are expected to challenge for the title, with or without Messi's presence, and are the overwhelming favourites coming into the group stage.
With the likes of Juan Roman Riquelme, Fernando Gago, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Aguero and Diego Buonanotte in their squad Argentina will be a huge menace to all participating teams.
Argentina will kick off their participation in the competition against the Ivory Coast in Shanghai, and will then meet Australia in the same city, before travelling to Beijing to clash with Serbia in the match that closes Group A.
