Talent Scout: Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics

July 12th, 2008 by SM Dev (ste)

This article is a change from past ‘Talent Scout’ articles in that it will not name any players. Don’t worry I have not gone mad by not naming any players as I am creating an article to point out that a tournament is about to start in China in a few weeks which will contain a wealth of talent from around the globe.

The following is courtesy from Wikipedia:

“The 2008 Summer Olympics will be held in Beijing and several other cities in the People’s Republic of China from August 6th to August 24th. Associations affiliated with FIFA have been invited to send their full women’s national teams and men’s U-23 teams to participate. Men’s teams are allowed to augment their squad with three players over the age of 23.

For these games, the men will compete in a 16-team tournament, and the women will compete in a 12-team tournament. Football preliminaries actually commence two days before the official opening of the games (August 8), and last right through to closing day.”

So what does all of this mean? Well it means you will be able to watch a wealth of U-23 talent from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands, Italy, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria et al. It also means that you might be able to spot some players who are not yet household names, and snap them up before they make a big money move or become more well know etc.

So have a look into the squads which have been named (please note that wikipedia does not contain all of the squads at this date), then make a note of the kick-off times, and then in a few weeks sit back and enjoy what should be a fantastic tournament (and at the same time spot some possible talent for your SM squad).

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29 Comments Add your own

1. :O | July 12th, 2008 at 8:08 pm

Brazil or Argentina for sure

but i think Brazil will take it with the likes of Diego, Ronaldinho and Robinho hopefully puttin in sum gd performances.

but Messi will perform gd as well
2. James | July 12th, 2008 at 8:43 pm

Brazil or Argentia.

Italy with an outside chance.
3. winter storm | July 12th, 2008 at 9:47 pm

for this time EYE think that we have a strong and tekkknical team…………..and dont forget ronaldinho
4. Lue-Yen | July 12th, 2008 at 11:18 pm

A.r.g.e.n.t.i.n.a 3 shuur they hav a better younger squad than brazil by far and maby you’ll see brazil in the finalys do to thier older players
5. Ryan Morgan | July 13th, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Everyone don’t read much into Australia. Our coach is a tool and selectors. Our u23 defenders are right, but they left out the good strikers/midfielders mostly.
6. Chris Antonelli | July 13th, 2008 at 5:22 pm

I think that china will rig it just like South Korea did in the world cup against Italy and Turkey but if not then Brazil will.
7. Stuart Munn | July 14th, 2008 at 8:18 am

I would love to see the Aussies get it but no-one, NO-ONE will touch the Argentines. The Europeans and Africans will compete and hopefully the Aussies. All the South Americans are just too gifted. You can’t rig games against such quality.
8. eddie sarmento | July 14th, 2008 at 8:31 am

no djite, burns or holland games over for australia. argentina or brazil will win
9. Stevie D | July 14th, 2008 at 10:37 am

u hav too remember that this in UNDER-23′S so teams like Italy have no chance!!!!!!!!

Brazil have some brilliant young talent along with Argentina but i’d pick holland as a dark horse ( Robben, RVP, Huntellar ect )
10. manu | July 14th, 2008 at 11:52 am

whats all this about ronaldino and huntellar im sure they r 28 n 24
I thought it is a u23 tourny
and yes italy to finsh bottom
thier players get betta with experience
if only giggs was lik that
11. gAv GaV | July 14th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

yh it is U-23 but you can choose 3 over 23 players.hence ronaldinho etc.
12. roach | July 14th, 2008 at 9:51 pm

I’m betting on one of the African nations (Nigeria or Cameroon), they’ve always done good on the Olympics, especially in the last 20 years or so. Ronaldinho, Messi? Well, let’s see if they will be able to go away from their clubs. And even if they do, I doubt they’ll be playing at 100%. What’s in it for them to motivate them? No money, just glory. They’ll suck.
13. Vino | July 15th, 2008 at 12:33 am

I think argentina will win but they will rarely take the massive name players. I mean if you look in the past, it was a tournament that really exposed players like Carlos Tevez to the world. Even though any body who knows anything about argentinian football will know that he was a prolific striker a long time prior to that. So these games will be more about players such as Ever Banega, Fernando Gago, Ezequiel Garay etc than any of the over 23 players they decide to take, which I don’t think is really a huge factor anyway. I would love to see young Lucas Trecarichi at the tournament along with Maxi Oliva and Carrizo on the back of his move to Lazio but i’m sure whoever they take will dominate.

Everyone look out for Macauley Crisantus for Nigeria. Next big thing. Everyone is putting Italy down but I think people will get a huge shock at how brilliant young striker Balotelli will perform. Although he is only 17 so maybe they won’t take him.
14. Tyler | July 15th, 2008 at 1:50 am

No love for japan? they were impressive in the u-21 tourney, there the darkhorse coming in
15. azman jr | July 15th, 2008 at 12:08 pm

argentina to win.brazil might win too.but dont forget nigeria, they have technically good young squad.and remember they won the under-21 world cup
16. Vino | July 15th, 2008 at 4:02 pm

i found out that argentina are taking Riquelme. I dunno who the other two over 23’s will be.
17. Alex Hurt | July 16th, 2008 at 6:48 am

argentina messi

need i say more
18. Bryan McGuire | July 16th, 2008 at 4:02 pm

It will be epic to see argentina face Brazil both teams with alot of young talent.
Argentina have the likes Messi,Augero,riquelme
and Brazil have Robinho,Ronaldinho,diego.
hopefully aguero will shine brought him for my barca team when he was 89 rated and he is 93 rated now so you know i think it is important to know who has shined from this tourney
19. ukbadboy | July 18th, 2008 at 10:45 pm

guys guys…..we all knw it a brazil, argentina final ….as 4 the dark horses im goin 4 the african nation….they have strenght all over and adapt 2 climate changes very well
20. jack | July 19th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

i hope there is some young talent emerging in Brazil and Argentina when i watch the olympics.
21. Luke Sefton (forum) | July 29th, 2008 at 6:05 pm

“but i’d pick holland as a dark horse ( Robben, RVP, Huntellar ect )”

They’re all 24

Definitely going to be Brazil or Argentina. I don’t know if Kaka is playing, but Brazil have Ronaldinho, Anderson, Pato, Lucas, etc. Argentina have Messi, Aguero, etc.
22. winter storm | August 11th, 2008 at 10:23 pm

deep…. I’ve think that piatti would be in the argentina team..
he’s fast
23. Ryan Morgan | August 14th, 2008 at 2:29 am

Spiranovic for Australia was probably one of the best defenders of the tournament.
24. roach | August 16th, 2008 at 12:13 pm

1st Quarter Final:

Belgium - Italy 3-2

Bye-bye Italy.
25. roach | August 16th, 2008 at 12:15 pm

Out from the Group stage:

Australia, Serbia, USA, Japan, China, New Zealand, South Korea, Honduras.

No surprises there, really.
26. roach | August 16th, 2008 at 12:30 pm

2nd Quarter Final:

Brazil - Cameroon 2-0 (a.e.t)
27. roach | August 16th, 2008 at 3:23 pm

3rd Quarter Fianl:

Nigeria - Ivory Coast 2-0
28. roach | August 16th, 2008 at 3:35 pm

4th Quarter Final:

Argentina - Netherlands 2-1 (aet)

The Semifinals:

Brazil - Argentina
Nigeria - Belgium
29. carolina | August 16th, 2008 at 6:48 pm

ARGENTINA!

obvio.