Who will win Gold???

[ITALIA1982]

Brazil
Argentina
Italy

Just being realistic here as well taking into considerations the overwhelming odds the above 3 nations are above the rest to win it all by all the oddmakers,

[Maruti]

WTF?
Sorry mate. Rephrase poll, cuz this is ridiculous.

Italy was nr 5 (below both Belgium and Holland) at the u21 European Championships. All three teams fielded similar squads. This Belgium squad is extremely talented and heck... I wouldn't be surprised

And what about the Africans? Each African team has easily as much talent as the Italian squad. And must I add that two of the teams competing ACTUALLY HAVE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS. Italy last had a medal like 70 years ago... And the Nigeria squad is similar to the u20 World CHampionship finalists.

All I can say is that Brasil or Argentina are favourites to win, but all other teams in the competion have an equally good shout at gold. If anything I would put Belgium, Italy and Cameroon at the bottom of my list, with high chances of an upset for Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Holland.

Stop being so damn Italocentric dude...

[Maruti]

I would definitely put this Dutch team ahead of this Italian team.

Concerning odds: The last time Cameroon met Brasil in the quarterfinal they went on to win the event. Ronaldinho played in that one as well.

[Maruti]

p.s. Oddmakers are set by a supply and demand factor. Its not skill that matter, but how many fanboys each team has. Italy has more fanboys than Holland, hence the higher odds. But the dutch have achieved much more at this level by any standard.

[mattteo]

Italy

[ITALIA1982]

WTF?
Sorry mate. Rephrase poll, cuz this is ridiculous.

Italy was nr 5 (below both Belgium and Holland) at the u21 European Championships. All three teams fielded similar squads. This Belgium squad is extremely talented and heck... I wouldn't be surprised

And what about the Africans? Each African team has easily as much talent as the Italian squad. And must I add that two of the teams competing ACTUALLY HAVE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS. Italy last had a medal like 70 years ago... And the Nigeria squad is similar to the u20 World CHampionship finalists.

All I can say is that Brasil or Argentina are favourites to win, but all other teams in the competion have an equally good shout at gold. If anything I would put Belgium, Italy and Cameroon at the bottom of my list, with high chances of an upset for Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Holland.

Stop being so damn Italocentric dude...

http://www.oddschecker.com/olympics/football/olympic-football-mens/win-market

check the above link...
Argentina---------2.3
Brazil-------------3.0
Italy-------------5.0



Ivory Coast & Holland------15
Nigeria-----------19
Belgium & Cameroon-------26

Hope this answers your question and please put IC, Holland, Belgium & Cameroon at the bottom of your list untill the oddsmakers change that, OK?

[Maruti]

Yeah. Odds say it all...

I'll just copy and paste:
Oddmakers are set by a supply and demand factor. Its not skill that matter, but how many fanboys each team has. Italy has more fanboys than Holland, hence the higher odds. But the dutch have achieved much more at this level by any standard.

Italy are only rated higher because more people BELIEVE they have a higher chance. Still its the HOLLAND side that has had more success in Europe at this level of play. BASING YOUR ASSESSMENT ON ODDS IS RIDICULOUS.

Basing it on facts:
Argentina and Brasil are way in front at u20 level in terms of achievement. Then come Holland and Nigeria. Italy only made it to the olympics through a back door. I must also add that both Ivory Coast and Belgium have extremely talented youth squads, the best in years.

I'm not saying that at senior level the odds are incorrect. I'm just stating that this ISN'T a senior level tournament, but an u23 tournament. But the odds are set as if this WAS a SENIOR LEVEL TOURNAMENT.

Using ODDS to set your case is just ridiculous. Odds aren't set by experts, but by the people, who gamble. The more people believe in Italy the lower their odds. I have a friend that works in the business and he always tells me that they earn a bunch of money on youth tournaments, cuz people tend to forget that this isn't the senior side playing and bet as if it was.

[Belgian guy]

Italy.

Oh wait! :D

[Maruti]

I would have to say that Argentina are better than Brasil. And I would have to favour Nigeria and Ivory Coast over Belgium. So I would say Argentine vs Ivory Coast in the final. Would be a smashing game if the group matches are anything to go by.

p.s. Not crossing off Holland yet.

[Belgian guy]

I would have to say that Argentina are better than Brasil. And I would have to favour Nigeria and Ivory Coast over Belgium. So I would say Argentine vs Ivory Coast in the final. Would be a smashing game if the group matches are anything to go by.

p.s. Not crossing off Holland yet.

Nigeria will be a handful for us. I haven't seen any of the Ivory Coast's games, so I have no idea about their quality. Still, I think our best chance at a medal is winning the next game. A Bronze medal game against either Brazil, Holland or Argentina isn't exactly a gift either.

[abbey]

Nigeria is 'silently' getting the job done!:D

[drc003]

LOL at Italy getting more votes than Brazil. Did the people voting even check the rosters or watch any matches? :eek:

[Maruti]

Brazil
Argentina
Italy

Just being realistic here as well taking into considerations the overwhelming odds the above 3 nations are above the rest to win it all by all the oddmakers,

HAHA!!! Dont want to bitch, but Italy when are u gonna take it back? Final and no Italy... but we have Nigeria.

[ITALIA1982]

Italy.

Oh wait! :D

At least Italy would not have been humilated to Nigeria 4-1...haha

[ITALIA1982]

I guess it has to be Argentina...

[VCFan]

HAHA!!! Dont want to bitch, but Italy when are u gonna take it back? Final and no Italy... but we have Nigeria.

Italian fans can definitely be a little overbearing, but did you get robbed in Rome or something?

[ITALIA1982]

LOL at Italy getting more votes than Brazil. Did the people voting even check the rosters or watch any matches? :eek:

At lease we did not get thrashed 3-0...

[glennaldo_sf]

At lease we did not get thrashed 3-0...

Eh... sorry to butt in here but ya did concede three goals to ten-man Belgium. - who just lost 4-1 to Nigeria. :eek:

U didn't lose 3-0 but conceding three goals to a team with ten men is pretty bad in itself.

[ITALIA1982]

Eh... sorry to butt in here but ya did concede three goals to ten-man Belgium. - who just lost 4-1 to Nigeria. :eek:

U didn't lose 3-0 but conceding three goals to a team with ten men is pretty bad in itself.

It should have been two and that goal definetly changed the momentum of the game, still a 3-2 defeat is easier to swallow that 3-0 or 4-1

[drc003]

It should have been two and that goal definetly changed the momentum of the game, still a 3-2 defeat is easier to swallow that 3-0 or 4-1

LMAO! Whatever makes you feel better. Getting beat when you are up a goal and going to be up a man for most of the match is worse than any scoreline. It's completely pathetic.

Remind me; Which medal is Italy playing for?