No Messi, no Mbappe, Brazil miss out: Olympics football loses star power
Paris: Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi were anticipated stars at this year's Olympics in Paris, but the men's football tournament will proceed without their presence, marking a notable absence of marquee names.
Mbappe, the captain of France and a national icon, expressed a desire to compete on home soil after leading his country to the Euro 2024 semi-finals in Germany. However, Real Madrid, his new club, declined to release him due to the tournament's timing outside of FIFA's international window.
Similarly, Messi, now 37 and a pivotal figure in Argentina's Olympic gold triumph in Beijing 2008, opted out of consideration under coach Javier Mascherano ahead of the Copa America. "At my age, I don't want to play everything and I need to make the right choices," Messi stated in an interview with ESPN.
Thierry Henry, the French football legend and coach, faced multiple rejections while assembling his squad, humorously comparing it to his high school days. The squad Henry announced includes Alexandre Lacazette, the seasoned 33-year-old Lyon striker, and Michael Olise, a new signing for Bayern Munich.
The men's football competition restricts participants to under-23 players, with up to three overage players permitted per squad. Despite the absence of superstar names, the tournament notably lacks Brazil, the defending champions from Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, who failed to qualify.
Argentina, however, remains confident under Mascherano, targeting a sixth consecutive Latin American triumph in men's football. "Our objective is to compete and go all the way," Mascherano affirmed in an interview with CONMEBOL. Julian Alvarez, the Manchester City striker and recent Copa America winner, headlines Argentina's roster.
In Group B, Argentina will face Iraq, Ukraine, and Morocco, bolstered by the presence of Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi. France, starting their campaign against the United States, will contend with Guinea and New Zealand in Group A.
Spain, aiming for gold after their Euro 2024 victory, features a squad led by coach Santi Denia. Despite notable absences like Lamine Yamal, Spain includes promising talents like 17-year-old Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsi. "He is really proud to be getting the experience of the Olympics," Denia remarked to Marca about Cubarsi.
Spain competes in Group C alongside Uzbekistan, the Dominican Republic, and Egypt, who missed out on Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. Japan, champions of the Asian Under-23 tournament, fields a squad devoid of overage players in Group D, facing Paraguay, Mali, and Israel.
Matches are scheduled not only in Paris but also in Nantes, Bordeaux, Nice, and Saint-Etienne. The semi-finals will take place in Lyon and Marseille, with the final set for Paris's Parc des Princes.
On the whole, while the absence of Mbappe and Messi diminishes the star power, the men's football tournament at the Paris Olympics promises competitive action and opportunities for emerging talents to shine on the global stage. Nations like Argentina and Spain aim to uphold their footballing legacies, setting the stage for an exciting and diverse competition across various cities in France. AFP