With the Copa America Centenario 2016 and the UEFA Euro 2016 treating the football fans with sheer magical and competitive football, it is soon going to be time for the biggest sporting event in the world. The Rio Olympics will have the world at its feet when the event starts on 5th August, 2016. But the football fans will start their party on 4th August when the competition in Brazil starts. There are in all 16 teams who will be taking part in Rio, divided into four groups of four teams each. Hosts Brazil automatically qualified for the tournament. They have been joined by 15 other nations. At the Olympic Games, each country participating in the football event sends their 18-man Under-23 squads which can include only three overage players.
With the new season also approaching, the football associations of many countries have booked their star players to play in the Olympics rather than sending them to their respective clubs. We take a look at the major contenders for the gold medal in football at the Games:
#1 Brazil
In the absence of its star players in the recently concluded Copa America, Brazil did not fare well and were knocked out in the group stages. But back in their own backyard, Brazil have only lost once when they were thrashed 7-1 in the semifinals by eventual champions Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Selecao have put in a good squad for the Olympics. They have chosen their three overage players wisely by selecting key players in Neymar Jr. and Douglas Costa, both of whom ply their trade in Europe. The third overage player is Palmeiras’ 38-year old goalkeeper, Fernando Prass.
The likes of Marquinhos, Rafinha, and Felipe Anderson also play for top clubs in Europe. These players are well supported by the players who play in the Brazilian league. The hosts have the edge over all the other nations as they have managed to secure Neymar to play in the Olympics after Brazil officials talked to Barcelona to allow their captain to represent the nation. There is no other team in the competition who has a more talented squad than the hosts have. Therefore, they look like the favorites to win the gold medal for a second consecutive time.
#2 Argentina
Argentina qualified for the Olympic Games when they won the South American Under-20 Championship last year. But the news that Lionel Messi has retired from international football and will never play for Argentina again, is still doing the rounds. Meanwhile, the main concern for the Argentine FA was which players they should send to the Olympic Games, where they need to do well to make their fans happy once again. Messi’s premature retirement had left the people of Argentina in a spot of bother, but their Under-23 team will be looking to put the disappointment of the Copa America behind them and go for gold in Rio.
The team that was announced on 6th July, 2016 has the likes of West Ham United’s young talent, Manuel Lanzini and Atletico Madrid’s frontman in Angel Correa. The Argentine U-23 coach, Julio Olarticoechea has only chosen two overage players – Real Sociedad’s 24-year old goalkeeper, Geronimo Rulli, and defender Victor Cuesta who is 27-years old. The team does lack the experience they need to win the tournament. But considering how their senior squad has lost three finals in three years, there will be no surprises if this squad goes on to repeat it. Argentina has always produced quality young players, and this team will look to make their mark in Rio.
#3 Germany
Even though the Germans have been knocked out of the UEFA EURO 2016, they are still the world champions. It is in the same country and city that Die Mannschaft won the World Cup in 2014. Their Under-23 squad has a lot of fine talent which plays in the German league. The Europeans qualified for the Olympics as they reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Under-21 Championship last year.
The German FA has not yet announced their squad for the Games. But it is expected that players playing in the Under-21 team for the Germans will feature in Brazil. Teenager Leroy Sane may not feature at Rio 2016 as he was picked for Euro 2016. But the likes of Julian Brandt (who has been in the transfer rumors), Max Meyer, and Serge Gnabry will be enough to give their team a chance at the gold medal in Rio. The German team lost 5-0 to Portugal in the semifinals of the Under-21 Championship, therefore a reunion at the Games maybe in line.
#4 Sweden
Sweden qualified for the Olympics when they won the UEFA Under-21 Championship last year when they beat Portugal in the final. Therefore, they feature in our list of top 5 contenders for gold. The Under-21 side that we saw in the Championship was very fearless and had the right kind of talent, both in attack as well as defence. This is only the second time that Sweden have qualified for the Olympics. The last time they qualified was in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
This time around, the Sweden team have a great chance as they will be full of confidence, coming on the back of an European victory. They have a good mixture of home-grown players along with players who have developed in other European countries. The most likely winner may not be Sweden, but they can prove the doubters wrong when they take field in Brazil.
#5 Colombia
The Colombian Under-20 squad helped their country qualify for the Olympics as they sealed a spot after defeating USA in a two-legged playoff in March 2016. The coach, Carlos Restrepo, has not announced the 18-man squad as yet but most of the Under-20 players may see themselves getting a place in the final squad for Rio 2016. The chances of Colombia winning may not be as strong as that of Brazil and Argentina, but in recent times, the Colombians have showed what they can do when it’s their day.
The likes of Guillermo Celis and Juan Sebastian Quintero will be looking to make their mark on the tournament and lead their team towards a podium finish. With James Rodriguez still sorting out his future at the Bernabeu, the Colombian team will look to find a way how they can make advances into the tournament without any of their star players.
