Paris 2024: XXXIII Summer Olympiad Discussion

We will play Morocco, which is basically France Lite, in terms of personnel and in terms of support. Our fans will naturally travel for most of the events but it is going to be interesting to see how the Frenchies react to our Olympians.

Masche better get his head out of his ass. We need to win the group. It will give us a better path towards medal contention. The other side will likely have France and the Gallegos. Our side is basically the USA(who we could possibly play in the QFs) and then Asian side mixed with a few weaker sides.

 

🚨Nicolás Valentini no podrá ir a los Juegos Olímpicos de París 2024. La decisión excede a Javier Mascherano.
*️⃣AFA determinó que todos los jugadores que tengan conflictos por renovaciones de contrato, como el defensor de Boca, no sean citados.
ℹ️Con @GringoCingolani pic.twitter.com/ymkL614KiJ

— César Luis Merlo (@CLMerlo) May 15, 2024

 

He is getting traded this summer - that's how I read it. If Boca needs to renew, I don't know why it matters if he is at the Olympics (I could be wrong). But to me it seems like Boca already has suitors. Rumors were that Inter Milan was interested. If he does go to Inter Milan, he will get an offer to join the Italian national team - that's how it goes now.

Mashcerano only has one more chance.

 

Apparently the Brighton players will be the hardest to get.

No Barco could be trouble, I didn't like Esquivel in the match he got to play vs Paraguay but I don't watch him that often tbh.

I also don't expect Garnacho to be part of this.

My prediction:

GKs
1. Dibu
2. Brey

DFs
3. Giay or Lujan
4. Di Cesare
5. Valentini or Gomez
6. Otamendi
7. Barco or Esquivel

MFs
8. Varela
9. Equi
10. Redondo or Medina
11. Enzo
12. Carboni
13. Echeverri or Buonanotte

FWs
14. Soule
15. Almada
16. Beltran
17. Alvarez
18. Gondou or Castro


Dream XI

-------------------Dibu--------------------
Giay---Otamendi---Gomez---Barco
-------Equi-----Enzo-----Carboni-----
---Soule------Julian------Almada-----

 

We basically won 2008 Olympics solely on talent alone. Batista was a novice but you cant lose youth tournament with Roman, Masche, Messi, Aguero, Di Maria, Lavezzi, Banega & Zabaleta. Bielsa 2004 team was another level though, 17-0 & won every matches.


However, Masche seems like his team never really put strings of good performance. Its usually 2 good performances at most and then lose the next game. Placente's team was really good in recent u17 tournament and only lost on penalties to Germany in semi. He should replace Masche if we fail at Olympics/

 

We should not get made if Valentin Barco does not go to any summer tournaments, nor should anyone act surprise. The kid has gotten to a bit of a rough start at Brighton and might be loaned out this summer; in which case, no summer tournaments. He is a bright future for Argentina and potentially a LB/LWB for the next 8-10 years for the Albiceleste, however, he is a bit small and needs to develop. In addition, Brighton might be in trouble b/c De Zerbi is leaving this summer and could really set the club back.

I think Barco has got a bright future ahead of him, but wouldn't be surprise if he is not available this summer.

 

Agreed that I don't anticipate Barco to be in any summer tournaments (For Copa, due to options and for the Olympics, due to Brighton potentially not letting him go).

Although he had a rough start and has a lot to learn, he played well recently and I doubt that he's going on loan.

 

He was good in their last two games. I'm 100% sure they will NOT loan him out now. Brighton fans I read on social media are high on him currently because he brought a spark that the rest of their squad seems to have lost in the last few months. They like him more than Buonanotte already.

De Zerbi leaving is not that big a deal, that club has a clear strategy. Back in the day Potter left and not much changed.

 

I'll watch us at the Olympics but I'm pretty much going into this blind, don't know much about the other teams who are competing, I assume the French will be fancied, anyone else to look out for?

 

The French will be showing up with Mbappe leading the charge, and will be loaded.
The Spanish team will also be very good.

You never know about teams like the US and Japan who don't really poses the quality at the senior level, but they always send teams that are tough outs for skilled teams like Argentina.

But my guess is that the preliminary favorites are ze French, Argentina and Spain (in this order).

 

Apparently Mbappe has walked-back on the Olympics thing. He’s said it’s up to his club and Madrid will not let him go for both the Euros and the Olympics, particularly if they have some tour.

 

Yes, I never understood why the players never took a hardline approach. What is the club going to do, stop them at the airport? At worst, they’ll get benched a few games and that’ll be that. Somebody from the club probably tells them,

“Well, if you get injured, we can void your contract because you were not given permission to go…” It’s clearly a bluff.


Messi set the precedent many years ago. He went when he was told numerous times he was not permitted to go. Even the high courts said no.

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSB291545/

Players should've followed suit. And kudos to Facu for taking such a stance.

 

I would be very surprised if Madrid allow Mbappe to play in both the Olympics and Euros.

 

Noice!

AHORA | ÚLTIMO MOMENTO 🚨

Informa @HernanSCastillo

"Julián Alvarez va a los Juegos Olimpicos"@SDM_590 pic.twitter.com/3ayN5kdOhI

— Radio Continental AM 590 (@Continental590) May 28, 2024

 

Seems like Otamendi is confirmed as well.

Also still waiting confirmation for Dibu, Enzo and Garnacho to be in the Olympic squad.

La Selección Argentina está esperando la autorización por tres jugadores más:
Dibu Martínez, Enzo Fernández y Alejandro Garnacho.
Todavía no están confirmados.

— Gastón Edul (@gastonedul) May 28, 2024

Maybe Barco and Valentini too?

If all them goes, what a squad!

-------------------------Julian
Garnacho-----------------------------------Soule
---------------Enzo-------------Equi Fernandez
-------------------------Varela
Barco------Valentini-------Otamendi-------Nardoni
--------------------------Dibu

Depending on the squad France will have, if this team don't reach the final, I will be disappointed.

 

The problem is that we have P. T. Barnum as our manager. He'll find a way to screw things up. I am just hoping there is enough talent to mitigate his glaring flaws.

 

They just need to do the opposite of what Mascherano says and play their own game. This team is too talented not to do well in the Olympics.

 

Much like the 2008 team. At youth level, its possible to win it on talent alone sometimes. African teams tend to do well just by relying on physical attributes.