football olympics 2008 teams, squads olympics games football

• Drawing of lots for the Olympic football competitions (men's):
Group A: Cote D'Ivoire (A1), Argentina (A2), Australia (A3), Serbia (A4)
Group B: Netherlands (B1), Nigeria (B2), Japan (B3), USA (B4)
Group C: China (C1), New Zealand (C2), Brazil (C3), Belgium (C4)
Group D: Republic of Korea (D1), Cameroon (D2), Honduras (D3), Italy (D4)

• Drawing of lots for the Olympic football competitions (women's):
Group E: China (E1), Sweden (E2), Argentina (E3), Canada (E4)
Group F: DPRK (F1), Nigeria (F2), Germany (F3), Brazil (F4)
Group G: Norway (G1), USA (G2), Japan (G3), New Zealand (G4)

Group A

Cote d'Ivoire - Have l'énergie and talent to disrupt the largest party in this group and if they can defend to form and maintain their tactical discipline, May and they benefit from this group.

Argentina - One of the strongest teams in the world and a real production line footballing talent during Argentina to Europe. Experienced and extremely talented and led by the indomitable Riquelme, Argentina are many people trying to defend their good Olympic won 4 years ago.

Australia - One of the weakest teams in the competition and the team chosen shows a real lack of experience of sub-23. In the group more difficult and unlikely to progress.

Serbia - Does quite well in U-21 euros and have a talent and discipline team that young people should be able to benefit from the elimination stages insofar as they overcome Côte d'Ivoire.

Group B

Netherlands - Euro U21 consecutive champions and perhaps the strongest team in Europe to play here. Tip to win the Olympics this year, but for my money are on an equal footing with Brazil and Argentina.

Nigeria A costume decent, but without the talent that the national team at senior level. It remains to see who they take to the tournament that their surplus players, but they will need to be at their best to progress this group.

Japan - On paper, turn to the weakest team in the group but have always been strong on teamwork and whether they can keep their discipline against the likes of Nigeria and the USA, they have a outside chance of achieving the elimination stages.

USA - The Olympics are an excellent opportunity for the USA to prove that their youth development is not as pathetic and downtrodded that critics claim it to be. They have the raw talent and if they can exploit, a place in the knock-out stages attend.

Group C

China - hosts are in a difficult group - nobody expects to beat Brazil and China will have to deal with Belgium as well. They are on an equal footing with New Zealand, but could take advantage of the opportunity and national pride in spring a surprise.

New Zealand - Without Australia, New Zealand had an easy path to qualification for the Olympics, but have to fight for respect or suffer a drubbing at the hands of Brazil and Belgium.

Brazil - They have chosen a talented and experienced squad and should easily top this group.

The Belgium have a good youth program and on the basis of higher-level skills are only one side to China or New Zealand. Do not see them get a medal, but they could make Brazil a term for their money in this group.

Group D

Republic of Korea - The characters of this group - have the potential to qualify and are physically fit enough to deal with Cameroon, the challenge too. Should be an interesting contest.

Cameroon - With Korea, they will be seeking a victory over Italy and provoke an incident. It could come to the surplus of players as they take the U-23 level are not that strong.

Honduras - Contrary to New Zealand Oceania, which had for themselves, Honduras had at the end of Mexico before qualifying for the Olympics. However, they do not have the firepower to challenge any of their rivals in this group.

Italy - Italy beat Portugal in a play-off to get here, and have an excellent team based almost entirely in Italy (apart from Rossi to Villareal). They have the talent up their group, but their lack of experience may count against them in the later stages of the tournament.

Story of Football Team

Although the game of modern football began with the founding of the Football Association of England in 1863, its roots extend to opposite ends of the earth. The ancient Chinese, Greeks and Romans played a game similar, long before the English kings in the years 1300 and 1400 have tried to ban the violent sport.

While professionals are allowed in men's tournament, the rules restrict teams to players under 23 years with the exception of three over-age players. "No age restrictions apply for women's tournament. For the Games of Beijing 2008 the number of women's teams was increased to 12. The men's tournament is 16 teams.

Olympic Tournament for Men

Olympic Tournament for Women