#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.
