Olympics: Can Anyone Stop Argentina and Brazil?

The Europeans may not take it seriously but Olympic soccer is certainly a big deal to the rest of the world, and as Beijing 2008 kicks off tomorrow, all eyes will focus on some of the greatest names in world football – even if this is basically an Under-23 competition.

Indeed, this is shaping up to be one of the most star-studded Olympic football competitions in recent memory. Not that past editions haven’t featured big names – Argentina had Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano in 2004, and the likes of Hernan Crespo and Roberto Ayala in 1996 – but it’s certainly different this time. No longer is Olympic football seen as a stepping stone to the big time – as it was for Michel Platini (1976), Dunga (1984), Romario (1988), Guardiola (1992), Crespo (1996), Xavi (2000) and Tevez (2004) – it’s become a prize to be coveted in its own right.

That’s exactly what’s brought the likes of World Cup veterans Ronaldinho and Riquelme out to smoggy Beijing, and sparked the numerous club v country head-to-heads that have dotted this European pre-season. All told, it should make for a fascinating two weeks and a cursory look at the various squads on show here leaves little doubt that the favourites will be the two South American countries – defending champions Argentina and Brazil.

Argentina will certainly fancy their chances of reclaiming gold in Beijing. If anything, they’ll present an even stronger team than the one that won in style in Greece four years ago. There’ll be no Tevez this time, but Mascherano returns as an over-age player and coach Sergio Batista will rely on a number of players from the squad that won the U-20 World Cup in Canada last year – especially midfield ace Ever Banega and striker Sergio Aguero. The most important pieces of this jigsaw though will be national team playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, who brings unrivalled game control and deadly accuracy from set-pieces, and the sheer genius of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

Brazil will be expecting pretty much the same from Milan new boy Ronaldinho, although coach Dunga also brings a stacked deck. Midfielders Lucas (Liverpool), Anderson (Man Utd) and Diego (Werder Bremen), will bring top level experience, and strikers Pato (Milan) and Jo (Man City) – who both featured at the U-20 World Cup last year – are among the best young strikers in the European game today. Brazil have never won Olympic gold, and Dunga will be under pressure to break that hoodoo in Beijing. He’ll do well to remember the fate of Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who lost his job in 2000 after Brazil crashed out to Cameroon in the quarter finals.

That of course is only proof that, as with other levels of the beautiful game, surprise is very much a big part of Olympic soccer and the biggest shocks have come from African teams. Nigeria, led by Jay Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, saw off both Brazil and Argentina to win in 1996, and Cameroon followed suit to beat Spain to gold four years later. Both countries return to Beijing looking to repeat that feat, but it may well prove an even taller order this time.

Nigeria bring a new generation built on the foundations of the U-20 team that finished second to Argentina at the 2005 World Cup, and continuity will be one the team’s strong points. Samson Siasia’s team will be well-prepped and play with lots of confidence, yet the absence of Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel and Marseilles full back Taiye Taiwo leaves the “Dream Team” somewhat short of quality individuals. Still, that may well provide an opportunity for others to shine. Captain Promise Isaac will provide drive from midfield and much will depend on the form and fitness of strikers Chinedu Ogbuke, Victor Obinna and Everton’s Victor Anichebe. Oladapo Olufemi only made the squad as a result of Taiwo’s absence, yet he may well prove the pick of Siasia’s unsung heroes.

Cameroon will also feature a side that’s a far cry from the triumphant class of 2000, which included the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Geremi Njitap, Pierre Wome, Lauren Mayer and Patrick Mboma, players who had months earlier starred as the Lions were crowned African champions in Nigeria. Arsenal’s Alexandre Song will feature in midfield, alongside the promising duo of Stephane Mbia and Landry Nguemo, but it’s hard to see where the goals will come from.

Ivory Coast completes the African challenge in what will be a first appearance at this level. Of course, after impressing pundits at the World Cup in 2006, there’ll be no raised eyebrows if the young Elephants were to shine in Beijing. Their main threat will come from Chelsea star Salomon Kalou, although Ivory Coast also boast an emerging generation of new talent led by strikers Gervinho (Le Mans) and Sekou Cisse (Roda JC). Defence may prove the weak point of this physical side though and a place in the last eight may prove the limits of their potential.

That the three African reps may well fall short of repeating the glory of 1996 and 2000 doesn’t mean there’ll be a shortage of spoilers waiting in the wings. The United States, for one, will be looking to surpass their fourth place finish at Sydney eight years ago, and all eyes will again be on the gifted Freddie Adu. But there’s more to this team than Adu: Goalkeeper Brad Guzan is Premiership bound with Aston Villa; Michael Bradley is an accomplished midfielder in the Dutch league with Hereenven; striker Jozy Altidore has just signed a multi-million dollar deal with Spain’s Villareal; and veteran Brian McBride will lend loads of experience in attack.

But the biggest challenge to what threatens to be a South American party should come from Holland. The Dutch arrive Beijing on the back of two consecutive European U-21 championships and boast some of the best young players in Europe – including Royston Drenthe (Real Madrid), Ryan Babel (Liverpool) and Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia). Even then, it’s the team ethic that Foppe de Haan has instilled in these players over the past four years that will be Holland’s biggest asset and I think they’ll definitely go far in Beijing.

But can anyone really turnover the super-skilled teams from Argentina and Brazil? That’ll certainly take some doing and I seriously cannot see it happening. If you were hoping for a Brazil-Argentina final though, that’s not likely to happen either – the draws point to a semi-final clash.

I think Argentina will make it two in a row – especially if they can keep Messi – but watch out for those pesky Dutch boys.