Argentina Ends Brazil’s Likely Olympic Comeback

Although there are technically sixteen teams vying for the Olympic gold in men’s football, two teams are undeniable crowd favourites: Brazil and Argentina. Team Argentina bagged the gold in Athens 2004 over Paraguay and will try to take home another one this year. Not a walk in the park, as Brazil was set to make a comeback this year. Everyone is drooling over these two teams to make it to the finals, what with the superstars they brought along with them.

Brazil’s got Werder Bremen’s attacking midfielder Diego Ribas de Cunha, AC Milan’s striker Alexander Pato, Manchester United’s midfielder Anderson Oliveira, and one of the world’s top footballers, Ronaldinho. Argentina has big guns to boast of like Atletico Madrid’s striker Sergio Arguero, Boca’s attacking midfielder Juan Riquelme, Liverpool defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano, and FC Barcelona’s winger and forward Lionel Messi.

We were all giddy to see which of the two was worthy to take the gold. For those who were praying to see the two teams in the championship, sorry to burst your bubble but their match-up was in the semis. That is, they needed to get past each other for the gold. This season still favours Argentina as its ruthless team crushed Brazil, 3-0. Now, Argentina and its stars will face Nigeria in the finals. It will be a mouth-watering game as Nigeria is sweeping its Olympic soccer matches with the power of a phoenix rising from the ashes. Although Argentina has one gold under its belt from Athens 2004, Nigeria also emerged as the men’s football champ in Atlanta 1996. I can say it will be one heck of a finals match!