From Uzbekistan to Spain, Guinea to New Zealand, Egypt to the Dominican Republic, they’ll be a wide range of nations competing in the Olympics 2024 later this month and early next.
That’s when a number of the world’s best young players, supported by some of their more experienced counterparts, travel to the Olympics.
There has been a widely held argument that football is not needed at such an event, given the already congested calendar around the globe virtually 12 months of the year.
Yet, hot on the heels of Euro 2024 and the Copa America, the national sport will provide a platform for future stars with 16 nations bidding for Olympic 2024 highlights and, ultimately, glory.
As it stands the three major nations appear to be world champions Argentina, newly crowned European champions Spain, and hosts France, but that’s not to say some of the minnows will not have their say.
The tournament opens on July 24 when Uzbekistan will meet Spain and Argentina take on Morocco to kick things off.
The top two from each of the four groups will progress to the quarter-finals, and there’ll be no shortage of talent on display with some of the best youth teams in the world, boosted by the inclusion of some superstar over-age players, in what’s likely to be an unpredictable competition.
That’s because, while Olympic men’s squads must consist of players under the age of 23, three overage players are allowed as part of the 18-man squads.
Hosts France will be led by captain Alexandre Lacazette, the former Arsenal man now back at boyhood club Lyon.
Naby Keita, a Champions League winner with Liverpool in 2019, will also be captaining his nation of Guinea in Paris.
Guinea is competing in Olympic men’s football for the first time since Mexico City 1968.
Argentina can count on four players who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Man City present Julian Alvarez, Man City past Nicolas Otamendi, Geronimo Rulli, and Thiago Almada.
The quartet will try to write history as the first players to win the FIFA World Cup followed by Olympic gold, what would be a unique feat in football.
Two new European champions, Fermin Lopez and Alex Baena, are aiming for more glory with Spain and trying to improve on the nation’s silver medal at Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021).
Back-to-back reigning Olympic champions Brazil did not qualify for Paris incidentally.
Along with Lopez and Baena, Ukraine’s Maksym Taloverov is playing at the Olympics having already lined up for Euro 2024 in a busy summer of football.
And then there’s Morocco.
Few will forget their heroic efforts at the last World Cup when they reached the semi-finals.
One of the stars of that run, Achraf Hakimi, will be determined to lead the North Africans to the gold medal match, as it will be hosted at the PSG star’s home stadium, the Parc des Princes.
The football will be held there, as well as the Bordeaux Stadium, Saint-Etienne, Nantes, Lyon, Marseille and Nice from July 24 to August 10.
There are also plenty of big names who will be leading their nations from the sidelines.
France are managed by French football legend and Olympic torchbearer Thierry Henry, while Argentina’s two-time Olympic champion Javier Mascherano – another former Premier League player – is aiming to become the first man to win the Olympic men’s football tournament as a player and a coach.
While it’s no surprise the SBOTOP Olympics 2024 betting odds make France, Spain and Argentina as favourites, Morocco are priced not far behind @ 11.00 with the USA in fifth.
By contrast, the rank outsiders are Iraq, priced @ 101.00, New Zealand @ 151.00, and the Dominican Republic @ 251.00.
Talking of the USA, this is arguably a more important tournament than ever.
Given the disappointment of their performances at the recent Copa, long-time MLS coach Peter Vermes believes it’s important the USA are back in the Olympics (for the first time since 2008 and only the second time in six Olympic Games) – just two years before the country hosts the World Cup.
Back to the host nation and with Sevilla back Loic Bade, Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone and Lyon trickster Rayan Cherki.
Last I read, Cherki was valued at around £50 million and attracting envious glances from English clubs, among them Chelsea and Newcastle. This could be just the showcase he needs to make his mark on the world stage.
Over the years, many talents have made their presence in the Olympics and have gone on to win the gold medals, among them Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Neymar, and Pep Guardiola.
Who do you think will be the breakout hero at this Olympics?
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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