Five teams to watch at the Tokyo Olympics
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With the Tokyo Olympics just around the corner, it’s time to take a look at five of the best football teams to watch at this summer’s Games.
The under-24 age limit in the men’s event means some of the world’s greatest young players will be on display in Japan over the next few weeks.
With no age restriction in the women’s event, however, some legendary female players will also be on show.
Here are five teams to watch at the Tokyo Olympics.
• Spain
Barcelona prodigy Pedri headlines Spain’s 22-man squad for the Tokyo Olympics, which also features a number of players who recently competed at Euro 2020.
Centre-back duo Eric Garcia (Barcelona) and Pau Torres (Villarreal) played a key role in Luis Enrique’s team at the European Championship, as did forwards Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig) and Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad).
With Real Madrid pair Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos also included, Spain look set to challenge for gold in Japan.
• France
Although Nice, Rennes and Monaco have all confirmed they will not allow their players to travel to the Olympics, France’s squad is still stacked with quality.
Even without highly-rated midfielder Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes), Les Blues will be able to rely on the likes of Malang Sarr (Chelsea), Pierre Kalulu (AC Milan) and Jonathan Ikone (Lille) this summer.
The French squad also features a couple of notable over-age players, with Tigres duo Andre-Pierre Gignac and Florian Thauvin getting a chance to represent their country at the Games.
• Brazil
Having clinched gold on home soil at Rio 2016, Brazil will be hoping to defend their crown when the Tokyo Olympics get underway.
Along with noteworthy under-24 players such as Richarlison (Everton), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) and Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Brazil’s Olympic squad also contains a genuine legend of the game.
With multiple top-flight titles and a host of Champions League medals to his name, 38-year-old right-back Dani Alves will be competing in Tokyo.
• Japan
You can’t talk about Olympics football without mentioning the host nation. That said, Japan aren’t just there to make up the numbers; they could ruffle some feathers this summer.
Real Madrid starlet Takefusa Kubo is undoubtedly the star of the show, but Yuta Nakayama (Manchester City), Maya Yoshida (Sampdoria) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (Bologna) will also be hoping to help their country win an Olympic medal.
• USA Women
Ever since women’s football was introduced to the Olympic program at Atlanta 1996, the United States have completely dominated the event.
The USWNT have won four of the six gold medals on offer (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012) and also claimed silver at Sydney 2000.
With no age limit in women’s Olympic football, legendary names like Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride) and Carli Lloyd (NJ/NY Gotham) will aim to fire the US to their fifth gold in Japan.
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