The third main event of the summer time begins subsequent week when the Olympics soccer competitors kicks off on Wednesday, July 24.
Scorching on the heels of Euro 2024 and Copa America , the motion in France will see 16 groups vying for an Olympic gold medal. The event is an under-23s competitors, however with nations allowed to pick out three overage gamers, we are going to nonetheless see some large names taking to the pitch.
Nonetheless, Lionel Messi won’t be representing Argentina , that means the Inter Miami icon won’t be including one other Olympic medal to the gold he received 2008. FourFourTwo takes a have a look at why he will not be there.
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Former Liverpool and West Ham midfielder Javier Mascherano is the Argentina U23s coach for the Olympics this summer time and his former teammate Messi was not included in his 18-man squad.
The overage slots have as an alternative been stuffed by goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi and Manchester Metropolis ahead Julian Alvarez .
This comes after Messi defined final month why he wouldn’t be taking part in in France this summer time, in what would doubtless be the 37-year-old’s last alternative to play within the Olympics.
Javier Mascherano is answerable for Argentina’s U23s Olympic aspect (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“I talked to Mascherano and the reality is we each understood the state of affairs,” he informed ESPN . “It is arduous [to think about the Olympics right now] as a result of we’re in Copa América. It might be two, three straight months of not being with the membership, and greater than something I am not at an age to be in all the things.
“I’ve to decide on rigorously, and it could be an excessive amount of to play two straight tournaments. I have been very fortunate to play within the Olympics, of profitable it along with Masche. It was an exquisite expertise on a soccer stage. Olympics, U20, recollections I am going to always remember.
“It is spectacular to be lucky sufficient to undergo all that. I hope that the blokes who get to go take pleasure in it in the identical manner that I did as a result of it is particular. The Olympics are particular, totally different from anything.”
Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero have fun with their gold medals on the 2008 Video games (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Since explaining his choice to not play within the Video games, Messi received the Copa America with Argentina however suffered an ankle harm within the last, which might have doubtless dominated him out for the event regardless.
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino mentioned earlier this week that Messi would miss at the very least the MLS aspect’s subsequent two video games whereas they wait to see the extent of his ligament harm to his proper ankle.
Argentina have been drawn in opposition to Morocco, Iraq and Ukraine in Group B, with their first match happening in opposition to the African aspect on Wednesday, July 24 in Saint-Etienne.
Mascherano’s aspect might be in search of to win gold for the third time of their historical past following their 2004 victory when Carlos Tezev starred beneath Marcelo Bielsa’s administration earlier than they efficiently defended their title 4 years later with a squad that includes the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Juan Roman Riquelme, Angel Di Maria, Mascherano, Messi and Sergio Aguero.
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