Welcome to the thrilling recap of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Football Tournament! This was a tournament that had it all – the drama, the passion, the heartbreak, and the glory. It was a football fiesta that saw the world’s best young talents and seasoned veterans battle it out for the ultimate prize in Olympic football. From Neymar’s golden penalty that sealed Brazil’s first-ever Olympic football gold, to the German women’s team’s historic victory, this tournament was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. So, lace up your boots, put on your shin guards, and get ready to relive the magic of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Football Tournament. Whether you’re a die-hard football fan or a casual observer, this review is sure to get your pulse racing and your football-loving heart pounding. So, without further ado, let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the unforgettable moments of this epic tournament. Buckle up, folks, because it’s going to be a thrilling ride!
Fiji qualified for the Olympic Finals by winning Olympic Qualifying Final at 2015 Pacific Games Football Tournament in Papua New Guinea. It will be an Olympic Finals debut for Fiji who despite setting a world record with a 38-0 win over non FIFA member Micronesia only managed four goals in four qualifying matches for Rio 2016 though they were undefeated across the five group games. Draws with Vanuatu and Tahiti, either side of the 38-0 win, were followed by a 3-1 win over Papua New Guinea in the semi-final. In the final itself a tense game against Vanuatu went to penalties before the decisive spot kick was converted by skipper Jale Deloa to send Fiji to Rio.
Fiji`s major problem, among many, is the fact that as a football nation they are ranked 186th in the world. A bigger problem however is the fact that so many of their football team are not only home-based but are in their late 20s and therefore too old for the Olympics.
Star man and one of the three over-age players permitted is likely to be Roy Krishna. He plays his club football in New Zealand for Wellington Phoenix for whom he has a one in three goal ratio. His figures at international level are even better. He has scored three in five appearances for the Under 23 side but has an even better ratio for the full national team of 15 in 23 appearances.
Korea Republic impressively swept through qualification for the finals of the 2016 AFC Championships with a 12-0 scoring record. In the finals they were equally impressive in reaching the Final after a tense semi-final against hosts, and equally impressive, Qatar. It took a very late goal to send the semi into extra-time and they snatched two more goals to reach the final, 3-1. Korea seemed to take a stranglehold against Japan in the Final and led 2-0 just into the second half but the game turned after the introduction of Japan substitute Asano who scored twice to snatch the trophy, 3-2.
Midfielder Ryu Seung-Woo, 22, is one of only two Korea players who plies his trade outside his homeland. He joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2014 but has in recent times been on loan at Eintracht Braunschweig and Arminia Bielefeld, his current club. He is an intelligent player who is very aware of space around him and how to use it. He is also very mobile and uses that mobility to utilise space effectively.
Denmark, as a football nation, revels in triumphing from a perceived `underdog` position. They topped their group in last year`s UEFA Under 21 Championships, despite losing to Germany, and in so doing qualified for Rio 2016. The team got as far as the semi-final where they were swamped 4-1 by Sweden.
Amongst the players to shine in the Czech Republic last year was the impressive 21 year old Viktor Fischer. As a playmaker or a winger the Ajax man has a quite outstanding scoring record. For his club Viktor has netted 23 times in 67 appearances and for Denmark, from Under 16 to the full national team, he has amassed a tally of 29 goals in 59 appearances, including 20 goals in his 30 appearances for the Danish Under 17 side.
Predominantly a left winger Fischer has pace and the ability to pick out a telling cross or hit the target from distance. Long term target of a number of Premier League clubs including Chelsea and Manchester United.
Germany Transition would seem to be the word as far as German football is concerned. Singularly unimpressive in the UEFA Under 21 Championships which earned them their ticket to Rio Germany has a long way to go before getting back to their days of pre-eminence in world football.
One of the players on whose young shoulders the future of German football is resting is Schalke 04s Leroy Sane. Only just 20 he is the kind of attacking midfielder that has grown in importance in world football because he can score goals as well as perform the other tasks required in midfield, tackling and passing.
Sane made his Schalke debut in 2014 and in his 34 games to date he has scored eight goals but it is with the national set up he has a superior goals per game ratio. For Germany Under 19s he scored eight times in 11 appearances and seven times in his four Under 21 appearances. Of dual French and German nationality the Essen-born youngster made his debut for the senior German side in 2015, against France.
Honduras Although they may be less well known outside their Central American region Honduras, nevertheless has an impressive record in Olympic football. Qualification for Rio 2016 means three consecutive Olympic games for Los Catrachos.
Qualification was achieved by virtue of finishing runners-up to Mexico in the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament. They reached the Final after eliminating the USA.
Alberth Elis is the one to watch in Rio. It was his brace that eliminated the USA last year and still aged only 19 he has time on his side not to mention a possess of top clubs chasing his signature, including Everton. Though still a novice in terms of senior football experience Alberth nevertheless has a perfect stiker`s ratio in international football. His four goals in five Under 23 internationals plus the two goals he netted on his full debut, in a friendly against Cuba in December 2015, means he has a perfect goal a game ratio, thus far. Not the biggest of players, standing just six feet tall he is nevertheless strong and has pace to burn, two assets that make him a threat to any team at any level.
South Africa`s route to this summer`s Olympic Games was tense to say the least. They went through the
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