Four years ago it was Carlos Tevez, on Saturday Benfica's Angel Di María secured his place in Argentine football history by becoming the second man to score a gold medal-winning goal for his country in the Olympic Football Tournament. In a final played in scorching heat in the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing, Argentina rode... Continue Reading →
Going for gold
In a couple of hours' time, Argentina will be going for a second gold medal of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games when the men's football team take on Nigeria, their conquerors in Atlanta 1996, in the OFT final. Argentina are seeking to defend their title, having demolished arch-rivals Brazil 3-0 in the semi, with Liverpool... Continue Reading →
Olympic Football Tournament: Argentina 3 – 0 Brazil
The Olympic Football Tournament is the one international tournament Brazil have never won (of the ones they compete in of course, because obviously they've never been crowned champions of Europe or what have you), and it will have to remain as such for at least the next four years. On Tuesday the selecção met the... Continue Reading →
Olympic Football Tournament: Argentina 1 – 0 Australia
Argentina are still a long way from shining as brightly as they might do, but they confirmed their place in the quarter-finals of the Olympic Football Tournament on Sunday, beating Australia by a solitary goal after an underwhelming performance which saw the Aussies' spirited rearguard eventually broken by a brilliant counter-attacking goal from Napoli's Ezequiel... Continue Reading →
Argentina 2-1 Ivory Coast: the goals
The goals from the first match of the men's Olympic Football Tournament between Argentina and Ivory Coast are online now, and you can watch them right here. I offer a metaphorical doff of the cap to anyone who can tell me what on earth Oscar Ustari is doing for Ivory Coast's equaliser... Argentina 2 -... Continue Reading →
Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008: Argentina 2 – 1 Ivory Coast
Lionel Messi talked to Barcelona, Lionel Messi played for Argentina. Lionel Messi set one up and scored one as Argentina beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in the opening match of the men's Olympic Football Tournament to begin the defence of the gold medal won in Athens four years ago. Barcelona having apparently decided to allow the... Continue Reading →
Messi’s going to Beijing
Good news for Sergio Batista. Lionel Messi's decision was announced on Wednesday, and he's got FIFA's backing: he wants to link up with Argentina's Olympic squad for the Beijing 2008 Games. With the callup now accepted by the player, Barcelona are obliged under FIFA's regulations to release Messi for the tournament, since as an under-23,... Continue Reading →
Olympic Football Tournament: Argentina squad
The final squad for Argentina's defence of their gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Football Tournament has been announced by Under 23 coach Sergio Batista. Following Bayern München's refusal to allow Martín Demichelis to join the squad, and Real Madrid doing likewise with Gonzalo Higuaín, the side looks slightly different to that originally named... Continue Reading →