What is the story with Ronaldo perhaps playing in the Olympics for Portugal? Please say it ain't so? Is this true or is this just a rumour?
Portugal want him to play. It's not clear how he feels about it. We can assume that Ferguson is not happy that Portugal want him for a nothing tournament...
I heard that SAF went to Lisbon to talk with the Portuguese FA about Ronaldo. If the Portuguese insist in having Ronaldo for the Olympics, there is nothing that can be done to prevent it, unless Ronaldo says he prefers to play in the EPL. The problem is that if Ronaldo doesn't go to the Olympics, then the Portuguese coach (forgot his name) will say he will not call him up for future friendlies/qualifiers , something that happened before Euro started. I think it's up to Ronaldo to decide this club vs country conflict.
Two things strike me from the posts thus far......1. Unfortunately, the Olympics are not nearly as prestigious as they once were. 2. Luiz Felipe Scolari can threaten to leave Ronaldo out of friendlies and such, but after watching Ronaldo play in the Euros, Big Phil would be hard pressed to leave him out. He was arguably the best player on the pitch for Portugal. After Ronaldo just gave his all for his country in the biggest international tournament of the summer, I think he should be allowed to go back and play for his club. I hope that is what he chooses.
Well, Scolari (I remembered his name) could say that, but he would be an idiot... Costa is retiring, Figo will be doing the same soon, and other than Deco there are not that many world class Portuguese creative midfielders left... Figo had a poor tournament and Quaresma has not shown good form so I think Scolari would be mad to not call up Ronaldo because of a possible refussal to play in the Olympics... he could argue that @19 his body cant take it... and it probably cant... he has not had a real break... he needs it... he was Portugal's best player in the tournament, I can't see Scolari excluding him in the future...
In a "world of sports" sense, it's very much a big deal. In a "soccer world" sense, it's a nothing tournament. I think few soccer players growing up dream of winning a gold medal in the Olympics. I think they dream of the World Cup and other club and national honors over the Olympics... Plus, with the age restrictions of the rosters, it kind of hampers the appeal, IMO.
Yeah, the players don't really get up for it... I think indoor football would be better at the olympics... i mean, you would get the best indoor footballers, they would all want to go.. it would be their time in the lime-light... it would still be football, and the fast pace of it would even help with exposure and drawing fans to regular football... oh... very insightfull yossarian... u care to break down your name? not that you asked but i'm 6'3'' which is very tall in Trinidad and my nickname is johno, hence mt.killamanjohno...
I'm not really sure what you mean by this...or what you're asking. Maybe my comment was too cryptic but what I was implying was that after the way Ronaldo played at Euro....Scolari would be nuts to leave him off future squads...as the fans would probably call for his (Scolari's) head. as for my name...I'm sure you're proficient enough with Google to discover the reference.
U were not cryptic... it was wide open and i knew what u meant... i only asked for an explanation of your name...but u tell me to google it... hmphh... that is beyond me... I suggest that u sir, go and google off yourself...
Apologies. Main protagonist in Joseph Heller's "Catch-22." Great sarcastic anti-war novel if you've got some time for some summer reading.
ok... lol... i was just kidding... i will pick it up... i am currently reading entertaining junk.. got through about 10 Connely novels.. michael connelly that is... I need to read more of the "Classics"
Two days ago while in Portugal, Ronaldo said clearly " I want to play in the olympics" he is looking forward to bring one medal to Portugal, so the only way i can see him out of the olympics is because SAF, if he change Ronaldo´s mind by some way like for instance saying " if you go to the olympics, you will spend most of the first months of the season on the bench"...
Craig Moore, 10 years with Rangers and captain, has just been transfer listed for insisting he play for Australia in the Olympics. Serious stuff!
According to my brother, he said the national teams will not be playing in Olympics as countries will field their under-21 or under-23 squad for the Olympics (I think its a ruling, otherwise, the olympics would become a World Cup). Having said that however, Ronaldo will not play in the olympics squad even though he is 19 yrs old as he is already in the "senior" squad. Sounds about right to me...
Don't think so... yes.. its under 23 squad, but once you are under 23 you can play in the tourney, i cant remember where I heard it, but i think they allow 1 or 2 older players to play as well... it matters not though... Ronaldo is elligeble to play...
I believe the limit is 3 over-age players. C.Ronaldo is definitely eligible....unless SAF says he's not.
Ronaldo's probably hurting from not being able to keep the Euro Cup trophy in Portugal. He sees the olympics as another chance at it. Even though soccer players don't think its a very prestigious tournament, it's better than nothing. besides, just like Harvard, the Olympics is a famous name, if he wins an olympic medal ppl will see it as "Wow, he was good enough to get an OLYMPIC medal" they won't look at it as "Oh, that tournament's not important to soccer players".
he wants 2 play! i just saw an interview on tv wit him saying he was proud 2 b picked nd that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! forca portugal!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its official... Ronaldo will go to the olympics... a PFA spokesperson publicly turned down the requests that were made for CRon and Tiago to be withdrawn from the squad.