Olympics is “time to strike” for France, says Renard

After a month of non-stop international football with Euro 2024 and the Copa America, the fun continues at the Olympic Games in Paris.

In the men’s tournament, 16 teams will play in seven different stadiums, all hoping to win a gold medal at the Parc des Princes on August 9.

This time there will be a new champion; Brazil, which triumphed in Tokyo, is not participating in the tournament this year.

Will it be Thierry Henry’s France, or will Argentina and Spain continue their recent international successes on the world stage?

Here we look at all the important information before we get started.

Football at the Olympics

In Olympic football, the general rules are the same as those of the national and international game. However, for the men’s teams, there is a notable difference in the age requirements of each nation.

Each of the 16 countries confirmed its 18-man squad ahead of the tournament, but is only allowed to field three players over the age of 23.

It all starts on July 24th, when Argentina and Spain open their respective campaigns with the first games of the day.

The tournament format consists of four groups of four teams each, with the top two advancing to the knockout round.

A bronze medal match will be played one day before the final. Due to the number of matches to be played, the match will begin two days before the official opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on July 26.

What do the groups look like?

Although France are favourites at home, they have been drawn into a group that also includes one-time silver medallists USA, Tokyo 2020 quarter-finalists New Zealand and underdogs Guniea.

Henry’s team performed impressively in preparation for the tournament, scoring twelve goals in three games against the Dominican Republic, Japan and Paraguay.

Although the Spanish ended up in the “group of death” at the 2024 European Championship but still won the trophy, they can now sleep a little easier knowing that they will face two teams in Group C that have never participated in the Olympic Games.

La Roja will play in a group with Uzbekistan and the Dominican Republic, but will also face Egypt, which is taking part in the competition for the 12th time.

Argentina are placed in Group B and will face their biggest challenge in their opening match against Morocco. The group is completed by Iraq and Ukraine.

Japan is the standout team in Group D, having already participated in 11 editions of the Games. They will face Paraguay, Mali and Israel.

Spain and Argentina want gold, but France also has a say

Spain and Argentina are clear favourites and will be looking to build on their success at the tournament this summer. However, as hosts, France is certainly in the running.

Argentina has the chance to win its third gold medal in Paris and set a new record, joining Great Britain and Hungary as the most successful nation in the competition’s history.

The Albiceleste have already triumphed at two Olympic Games in a row: their first victory came 20 years ago in Athens, followed by another gold medal four years later in Beijing.

Javier Mascherano is the coach of the Argentine national team and his squad includes two Copa America winners in Nicolas Otamendi and Julian Alvarez of Manchester City. Thiago Almada, who just signed with Botafogo in Brazil, has been a star in MLS in recent years and is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Argentina failed to advance past the group stage in their two previous appearances at these games, but are confident of reaching the knockout rounds this time.

Spain is aiming for its first gold medal since Barcelona 1992 and hopes to make up for its loss to Brazil in the Tokyo final.

Their squad includes Fermin Lopez, Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi.

However, France are likely to pose a significant threat, particularly as the games have the advantage of being played on home soil.

Eleven of Les Bleus’ 18-man squad are playing in France hoping to lead their nation to its first gold medal since the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Henry’s squad includes some real stars.

Alexander Lacazette brings experience as captain, Jean-Philippe Mateta has had a strong season and Bayern Munich’s new winger Michael Olise is arguably the best player in the entire competition.

Who could exceed expectations?

Uzbekistan, led by Timur Kapadze, is one of three teams making their Olympic debut, along with Ukraine and the Dominican Republic.

They qualified for the tournament after reaching the final of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup earlier this year, losing 1-0 to Japan in May.

However, they face a difficult task in reaching the knockout stages in their first participation in the tournament, as they are seeded in Group C along with Spain and Egypt.

Japan, meanwhile, is taking part in the Olympic Games for the 12th time. Of this year’s participating teams, this record is only surpassed by the USA (15), France (14) and Egypt (13).

After winning all three group matches at the Tokyo Games, Japan was close to achieving its best home result to date: the team had already won bronze in 1968.

In the bronze medal match four years ago, they lost 3-1 to Mexico and are now eagerly aiming to finish in the top two for the first time.

The USA will also be looking to show some pride on the international stage after being knocked out in the group stages of the Copa America last month. Their best result was in 1904, when they won silver in St. Louis. This time, Marko Mitrovic is expected to bring home the silver medal in Paris.

No return to Paris for Mbappe or Messi

While some of the world’s best talent will be coming to Paris this month, several of the 16 participating nations have no competitors.

Kylian Mbappe is probably the greatest of them.

After failing to lead Les Bleus to the European title, the former Paris Saint-Germain striker will not be able to make up for it in the city he has called home for the past seven years.

Mbappe has completed his move to Real Madrid, signing a five-year contract with Los Blancos. The 36-time La Liga champions said they would not release any player from their squad for the matches, despite Mbappe saying earlier this year he was keen to play.

Lionel Messi is another big player who will not be in Paris, having just led Argentina to their third consecutive victory at a major tournament.

Messi played five times for Lionel Scaloni’s team at the Copa America and scored a goal in the semi-final win against Canada.

The 37-year-old had to be substituted in the final against Colombia due to an ankle injury, but would not have played anyway as he had informed Mascherano that he did not want to play.

Messi has won everything there is to win as a professional footballer, including the Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Games.

And Spaniard Lamine Yamal, the youngest player ever to reach the final of a major international tournament, will also not compete in the games in Paris.

Yamal was the star of La Roja at Euro 2024 and was involved in five goals in seven appearances in Germany.

The 17-year-old played 50 times for Barcelona last season and will skip the tournament to manage his workload ahead of the new La Liga season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

France – Jean-Philippe Mateta

All eyes will be on hosts France, as Henry’s team goes into the games with a wealth of attacking talent.

Les Bleus are led by former Arsenal striker Lacazette, but attention will be focused on Crystal Palace striker Mateta, who has been in top form in the Premier League.

Mateta scored 16 goals last season, having previously scored just seven times for the Eagles, including a run of nine goals in Palace’s seven-game winning streak under new head coach Oliver Glasner.

His former Palace teammate Olise, who just joined Bayern Munich for £50 million, is also part of Henry’s plans, along with Lacazette’s Lyon teammate Rayan Cherki.

Argentina – Julian Alvarez

Fresh from his success at the Copa America, Alvarez is keen to add another international award to his trophy collection.

Alvarez is one of three overage players selected by Mascherano, along with Otamendi and Geronimo Rulli.

The 24-year-old scored twice in Argentina’s 16th Copa victory. Last season he scored 19 goals in 54 appearances in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s side as they won their fourth consecutive Premier League title, a record.

By taking part in the tournament, Alvarez will miss City’s pre-season tour of the USA and the Community Shield match against rivals Manchester United.

Spain – Fermin Lopez

Along with Alex Baena, Fermin is one of two players from the Spanish team that won the 2024 European Championship and will go to the Olympic Games.

Lopez played just 28 minutes in La Roja’s record fourth European Championship win, but he is guaranteed more playing time in Paris.

The 21-year-old has had his breakthrough this year, scoring eight goals for Barcelona in La Liga, including a strike against Real Madrid in his second appearance in the Classico.

Lopez and Baena want to make history by becoming the first field players to win both the European Championship and Olympic gold in the same summer.

Morocco – Achraf Hakimi

Although the team failed to build on their 2022 World Cup semi-final finish at the recent Africa Cup of Nations, PSG star Hakimi hopes to lead Morocco to gold.

Hakimi will lead the Atlas Lions to their eighth appearance at the Games after being given permission to miss his club’s pre-season training.

The 25-year-old, who has made over 70 international appearances, helped Luis Enrique’s side to the domestic treble last season and was involved in nine goals in 25 Ligue 1 games.

Guinea – Naby Keita

After a difficult season with numerous injuries at Werder Bremen, former Liverpool midfielder Keita Guinea will captain his second appearance at the Olympic Games.

Keita moved to Germany from Anfield last year but only played in five Bundesliga matches and missed the final five games of the season after refusing to play in the match against champions-elect Bayer Leverkusen.

The 29-year-old played 56 games for Guinea during his seven-year international career, scoring eleven goals.