Football at the 2012 Olympics Preview
Leave a commentJuly 25, 2012 by joshilan14
Olympics football is usually neglected for attention, due to it previously being called as a ‘poor’ tournament. However, Great Britain’s involvement in Olympics football for the first time since 1960 has reignited interest in the tournament. A “United” Kingdom team had many difficulties along the way; with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all forbidding their players from playing for Team GB, due to their fears that it would damage the country’s identity and that it would they would suffer repercussions from FIFA and UEFA if they allowed their players to take part (this was eventually resolved). The Olympics is an under-23 tournament, which gives younger players a chance to shine and make names for themselves. Each nation is also allowed to include three overage players in their squads.
GROUP A
Great Britain
Lowdown: At points, it did not look like a Great Britain football team would come to fruition. Fortunately for us, there will be a Great Britain team appearin in the Olympics. The squad selection saw controversy arise, with no Scottish or Northern Irish players being selected; while David Beckham was surprisingly omitted, with Stuart Pearce not wanting to pick him just for sentimental value. The eighteen players selected though are very good, with it showing that Team GB are looking to play an attacking brand of football. There are also reservations about Stuart Pearce’s management ability, but the omission of Beckham shows he is taking the tournament seriously. The friendly against Brazil saw some problems emerge, with the defending being generally poor, while few chances were created. Great Britain has a chance of winning the tournament, but they will have an arduous journey to do so.
Manager: Stuart Pearce
Player to watch: Joe Allen
Prediction: Semi finals
Senegal
Lowdown: Senegal qualified for their first ever Olympics by virtue of a 2-0 play-off win against Oman. The African nation is not expected to reach the knock-out stages; but there style of play and fast 4-2-3-1 formation will test teams. The tournament can also be used to test out future players for the national team, with the Olympics manager Joseph Koto also being caretaker for the Terrenaga Lions. Newcastle United pair Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse did not get called up to the squad, which came as a surprise.
Manager: Joseph Koto
Player to watch: Ibrahima Balde
Prediction: Group stages
United Arab Emirates
Lowdown:The UAE managed to qualify for the Olympics as a result of finishing top of their qualifying group. They were helped by Iraq, whose 2-0 victory over the UAE was overthrown as a result of fielding an ineligible player. Like many Middle East nations, the UAE are looking to make a name for themselves on an international stage, with their qualification for the Olympics will increase their profile.
Manager: Mahdi Ali
Player to watch: Hamdan Al Kamali
Prediction: Group stages
Uruguay
Lowdown: Despite having a population of three million people, Uruguay’s outstanding youth development looks set to continue. With Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez taking charge for the tournament, the players participating are not only looking at winning gold, but a place in the national team-Sebastien Coates, Gaston Ramirez and Diego Rodriguez looking to impress in particular. The choice of brilliant striker partners Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez as overage players shows their intention and gives them an attacking threat worthy of beating any team. Uruguay are the dark horses for the tournament.
Manager: Oscar Tabarez
Player to watch: Edinson Cavani
Prediction: Runners up
GROUP B
Gabon
Lowdown: This year has been brilliant for Gabon on the international stage; firstly they co-hosted a very successful African Cup of Nations (link). Now they have qualified for their first ever Olympics. Manager Claude Albert Mbourounot-who also guided the Gabon to the CAF Under-23 Championships-has been the mastermind behind their qualification. The future is bright for Gabon, but they will struggle to get past the group-stages.
Manager: Claude Albert Mbourounot
Player to watch: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: Group stages
Mexico
Lowdown:After their appalling performance at the Copa America, there were many calls for Luis Fernando Tena to stand down as coach of the Under-23 team. He was lucky to have the support of Mexico manager Jose Manuel de la Torre, who stood by him-and is now reaping the rewards for his loyalty. This has been shown by their resounding success at the Toulon tournament. This has seen Mexico labelled by many as the dark horses of the competition; but this depends on whether they show their Copa America or Toulon tournament form.
Manager: Luis Fernando Tena
Player to watch: Marco Fabian
Prediction: Quarter finals
South Korea
Lowdown:Looking at South Korea’s squad, you could forget it was supposed to be an Under-23 tournament. This is because many of the players selected are regulars in the South Korea national team. There is a unity and belief in the squad, while manager Hong Myung-Bo is a national hero as he captained South Korea in their historic 2002 World Cup. There is also the added incentive of being able to forfeit national service if they get a gold medal. South Korea are unlikely to win, but they could surprise along the way.
Manager: Hong Myung-Bo
Player to watch: Ki Sung-Yueng
Prediction: Quarter finals
Switzerland
Lowdown:The squad selected by Pierluigi Tami is good, but it feels like it has something lacking. Switzerland’s best players Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka are unavailable due to club commitments; while they also look short defensively and offensively. Team-spirit could work on their side though, with the majority of players having played under Tami at under-21 level. Switzerland are lucky to be in a group with no “heavyweight”, but both Mexico and South Korea will be tough opposition if they want to reach the quarter-finals.
Manager: Pierluigi Tami
Player to watch: Diego Benaglio
Prediction: Group stages
GROUP C
Belarus
Lowdown: It came as a surprise to many when Belarus qualified for the Olympics. However in recent years, football in Belarus has come on leaps and bounds. BATE Borisov have done well on a European stage; while Belarus qualified for the tournament by achieving a third-place finish at the European Under-21 Championships. Like many other managers in the tournament, Georgi Kondratiev is manager of both the national and the under-23 teams. Belarus’ major problem going into the tournament is that only one player plays their football outside of the former Soviet nation.
Manager: Georgi Kondratiev
Player to watch: Renan Bressan
Prediction: Quarter finals
Brazil
Lowdown: Brazil have won every international tournament. Apart from the Olympics, that is. This coupled with the fact that this tournament is two years before Brazil hosts the World Cup heaps pressure onto the team and Mano Menezes; who could lose his job if Brazil do not return home with a gold medal. The team that lines up in this tournament is likely to be similar to the one that plays at the World Cup in two years time. Brazil are the team to beat, but could the pressure placed on them prove to be their downfall?
Manager: Mano Menezes
Player to watch: Neymar
Prediction: Winners
Egypt
Lowdown: After three straight African Cup of Nations victories, Egyptian football has gone on the downfall. They have failed to qualify for the last two editions of the tournament they were previously so successful in; while the Port Said disaster has shaken Egyptian football. The Olympics can do two things for the country: restore its faith in football and to bring through a new generation to replace the old. Egypt are lucky to be in what can be viewed as the “weakest group,” which sees their chances of qualifying for the knock-out stages increase.
Manager: Hany Ramzy
Player to watch: Ahmed Hegazy
Prediction: Group stages
New Zealand
Lowdown: On paper, the New Zealand team is the weakest in the tournament. You could argue that their qualification for the tournament is easy, due to Australia’s absence from Oceania. The squad consists of players who ply their trade in New Zealand, Australia, England and America. There are a number of players in the squad-most notably Ryan Nelsen and Shane Smeltz-that impressed at the 2010 World Cup for New Zealand. Neil Emblen’s remit must be to ensure that New Zealand get some respectability from the tournament.
Manager: Neil Emblen
Player to watch: Tommy Smith
Prediction: Group stages
GROUP D
Honduras
Lowdown: With only two Olympic spaces going to North America, you would expect Mexico and the USA to qualify. This is not the case, with Honduras having upset the status quo, courtesy of the USA shockingly going out in qualifying. Manager Luis Suarez-formerly of Ecuador-is known for getting the best out of small teams. The squad looks strong, with many of the country’s next generation looking like they could develop into some very good players. Getting out of the group-stages will be hard, but it is not impossible.
Manager: Luis Suarez
Player to watch: Andy Najar
Prediction: Group stages
Japan
Lowdown: Out of the eighteen man squad, Japan has six players who play their football outside of Japan. This can only be a positive thing, with the players being able to develop to their full potential. Add this with youthful promise and a good tactician in Sekizuka; it would not be surprising to see Japan reach the quarter-finals. The only thing which Sekizuka has done wrong is by not calling up a game-changer as an overage player; which could either bring out the best of Takashi Usami, or it could do the exact opposite.
Manager: Takashi Sekizuka
Player to watch: Maya Yoshida
Prediction: Quarter finals
Morocco
Lowdown: Only two players in Morocco’s squad ply their trade in Morocco, with the majority playing their football in Europe, which can be seen as a positive due to a higher quality of development. However, many of these players are untested at club level, due to a lack of game-time at club level. Disciplinarian Dutch manager Pim Vebeek will have high standards of his time, but his management style could alienate players and dampen the team spirit. Morocco will be hoping to beat Honduras and Japan in the race for second place.
Manager: Pim Verbeek
Player to watch: Abdelmahid El Kaoutari
Prediction: Group stages
Spain
Lowdown: Spain come into the tournament hoping to win their second international competition in the space of a couple of months. The Euro 2012 victory was just another in Spain’s conveyor belt of tournament wins, with the likes of Jordi Alba, Juan Mata and Javi Martinez hoping to help Spain to a great summer. Luis Milla’s side has great strength in depth, while the majority of players selected are regulars at their club side. The only weakness I can find in the Spain team is that they do not have a “typical” striker, but then look what happened at Euro 2012.
Manager: Luis Milla
Player to watch: Iker Muniain
Prediction: Semi finals
London 2012 could be the catalyst to get Britain interested in Olympics football. Many have regarded it as the “Mickey-Mouse contest” of international football, but with such a high-calibre of players on show, this statement can be disregarded. There is a disparity in some groups, with there being one team far superior than the rest-for example Brazil in Group C; while others will be hotly contested-such as the battle in Group B. Brazil, Spain, Uruguay and Great Britain are the favourites to win it; while Mexico and South Korea could be the dark horses. Expect it to be an open tournament, with lots of goals and excitement along the way.
