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"Thousands of Argentine fans, still hung over from their basketball team's upset of Team USA, showed up 12 hours later for an unusually early men's Olympic soccer final. Their bleary eyes witnessed history. Argentina, off the foot of rising star Carlos Tevez, beat Paraguay 1-0 for its first gold medal in any sport in 52 years.
The last time the Argentine anthem, "Oid Mortales," was heard at the Olympics was in Helsinki in 1952, when Argentina won a double sculls rowing gold. As the light blue and white flag made its way up the flag pole Saturday, Argentine players and fans belted out the anthem proudly. After an early exit in the 2002 World Cup and settling for second at the Copa America last month, Argentine soccer fans were ready to rejoice."
Read more at Goal and gold: Argentina reigns in men's soccer
"Argentina won its first Olympic gold medal in soccer Saturday, beating Paraguay 1-0 on Carlos Tevez's eighth goal of the tournament.
Despite the loss, Paraguay captured its first medal in any sport. Italy won the bronze Friday, beating Iraq 1-0.
The victory gave Argentina its third Olympic soccer medal. It finished second to Nigeria in 1996 and to Uruguay in 1928.
In a game the Argentines controlled from the beginning, Mauro Rosales helped set up the winning goal in the 18th minute with a cross from the right side. Tevez ran between Paraguay defenders Julio Manzur and Carlos Gamarra and shot the ball into the net from about 20 feet out.
The Paraguayan defenders had trouble with Tevez for most of the game, and Gamarra and Manzur were given yellow cards for hauling him down after he scored."
Read more at Argentina wins soccer gold
The winner of the Gold Medal: Team from Argentina
The winner of the Silver Medal: Team from Paraguay
The winner of the Bronze Medal: Team from Italy
"The Iraqi men's soccer team fell just short of earning a medal at the Athens Olympics when they lost 1-0 to Italy on Friday at Kaftanzoglio Stadium.
Iraq, a surprise to even make it out of the first round, was looking for just its second medal ever at the Olympic Games. Abdul Wahid Aziz won a bronze medal in weightlifting during the 1960 Games. But Alberto Gilardino's goal in the first half for Italy was too much for the underdog Iraqis.
A medal looked like a possibility for Iraq after it won its first two matches of the competition to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. They then edged out Australia to move even closer to glory. Two straight losses -- to Paraguay and now Italy -- ended the run for a medal, but, still, the accomplishment of advancing this far in the competition was a victory for the war-ravaged country."
Read more at Iraq Falls Short in Bid for Soccer Medal
"Iraqi and Italian soccer players plan to wear black armbands on their uniforms during their Olympic bronze medal game today. The armbands are in honor of an Italian journalist killed in Iraq. The International Olympic Committee has approved Iraq's request for the armbands. Italy's delegation is proposing that all its athletes be allowed to wear the armbands for the rest of today."
Read more at Iraq, Italy to wear armbands in soccer
"They went out the way they came in, acting as if it was all such a surprise and this was the greatest day of their lives.
They gave the impression they would have played this way, this hard, this gosh-darn giddily, whether the entire world was watching or they simply were kicking the ball around a playground.
When soccer's Fab Five and the rest of the U.S. women's Olympic team heard all the cheers Thursday night at Karaiskaki Stadium and felt the love of a raucous crowd, it was as if the attention floored them. Then, in a brilliant, emotionally charged soccer show, the Americans beat Brazil 2-1 in overtime for the Olympic gold medal."
Read more at Fab Five of women's soccer disband with gold
The winner of the Gold Medal: Team from United States
The winner of the Silver Medal: Team from Brazil
The winner of the Bronze Medal: Team from Germany
" The U.S. women's soccer team was 45 minutes away from winning back the Olympic gold medal Thursday, taking a 1-0 halftime lead over Brazil on a goal by Lindsay Tarpley in the 39th minute. The goal could be controversial, however, as replays showed that Brandi Chastain's hand may have touched the ball moments before she passed to Tarpley for the goal.
U.S. captain Julie Foudy started the game despite spraining her right ankle in a quarterfinal victory over Germany on Monday."
Read more at The Seattle Times: News from AP
Update - At Full time the scores are 1 - 1. Extra time is now about to start.
With 8 minutes of extra time still to play the US have just scored taking it to 2 - 1.
The final score was 2 - 1 to the US.
"The Fab Five and the rest of the U.S. women's soccer team want to ride their emotions to the gold medal, rather than have those emotions get in the way.
It's a difficult balance to strike: The young players wants to send Mia Hamm & Co. out as winners, but many similarly inspired teams have fallen short because they were simply trying too hard.
"I don't want them to feel that I'm putting pressure on them to have to do it for me, or for us," Hamm said. "Let's do it for each other."
The long goodbye ends for the Fab Five on Thursday when the United States plays Brazil for the Olympic title. It will be the long-anticipated chance for Hamm, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Kristine Lilly and Brandi Chastain to end their time together as world champions, a bragging right they haven't been able to claim for five years."
Read more at Fab Five looks for a golden finish
"The Iraqi soccer team's improbable run at an Olympic gold medal ended Tuesday night with a 3-1 semifinal loss to Paraguay. The Iraqis still have a chance for a bronze, which would be their war-weary nation's first medal in 44 years.
Paraguay made history of its own, getting two goals from Jose Cardozo and one from Fredy Bareiro to advance to Saturday's gold-medal game against Argentina, a 3-0 winner over Italy. Gold or silver, it will be the first Olympic medal of any sort for Paraguay.
Iraq and Italy will play for the bronze Friday night."
Read more at Iraqi soccer team's storybook run ends with 3-1 semifinal loss to Paraguay; bronze still at stake
"Argentina defeated Italy 3-0 in the men's Olympic soccer semifinals Tuesday and will play for its first gold medal in South America's favorite sport. Budding star Carlos Tevez scored his seventh goal in five matches to give Argentina the lead in the 16th minute."
Read more at Argentina vs. Italy Olympic soccer results
"Argentina defeated Italy 3-0 in the men's Olympic soccer semifinals Tuesday and will play for its first gold medal in South America's favorite sport.
Budding star Carlos Tevez scored his seventh goal in five matches to give Argentina the lead in the 16th minute. River Plate's Luis Gonzalez doubled the tally in the 69th and second-half substitute Mariano Gonzalez put the game out of reach six minutes from the end after an unselfish pass from Tevez.
The South Americans, who have now outscored the opposition 16-0 in five matches, forced the play from start to finish, while the Italians resorted to their now familiar defensive tactics and occasional counterattacks.
Sentimental favorite Iraq was to play Paraguay in the other semifinal later Tuesday, with the winner to meet Argentina in Saturday morning's final at the main Olympic Stadium. Italy meets the loser in the bronze medal match.
Andres D'Alessandro and Luis Gonzalez combined to start the play that led to Argentina's first goal."
Read more at Argentina advances to men's soccer final with 3-0 win against Italy
"Argentina-Italy may look like a premier soccer matchup - but most eyes are on a team in Tuesday's other Olympic semifinal. Iraq has overcome unprecedented problems to get within one game of the gold-medal match. It has to beat another outsider, Paraguay, to reach the final and doesn't care who it meets when it gets there.
"This success is very important for our people in Iraq," coach Adnan Hamad told reporters on the eve of the semifinal in Thessaloniki. "Every day we have one more win, they have more celebration. They are with us here.
"We have to try our best to win and give our people some hope to be happy, to be smiling and to celebrate like other people.""
Read more at Iraqi soccer team carries nation's hopes
"OLYROOS fitness trainer Anthony Crea has been banned and fined for making an offensive gesture during the Australians' Olympic soccer match against Serbia and Montenegro.
Crea was fined €8130 ($13,900) and suspended for five matches, meaning he will watch the rest of the tournament from the stands."
Read more at Aussie official fined, banned
"Delighted Korea Republic coach Kim Ho-kon praised his players for their spirit in fighting back from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Mali on Tuesday and reach the Olympic quarter-finals.
Korea Republic looked like joining Japan on the sidelines after a Tenema Ndiaye hat-trick put Mali in the driving seat after 55 minutes but the Koreans roared back with three goals in seven minutes, two by striker Cho Jae-jin, to earn an invaluable point.
"I want to thank my players for producing this surprise comeback and getting a draw," said Kim.
"Our opponents scored two quick goals in the first half although my team were ready for the match, both mentally and physically."
Read more at Kim praises Korean fighting spirit
"Portugal were bundled out of the men's soccer tournament at the Athens Olympics on Wednesday after a humiliating 4-2 defeat by Costa Rica.
Morocco's 2-1 victory over Iraq in the other Group D match ensured co-favorites Portugal became the biggest casualty of the first round in Athens.
Portugal, who were without suspended Manchester United midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo and Fulham's Luis Boa Morte, twice squandered the lead as they finished bottom of the group.
"We are very disappointed not to reach the quarter-finals," said Portugal's coach Jose Romao. "We were poor. This team"
Read more at Portugal Suffers Humiliating Athens Exit in Soccer
"Iraq suffered their first defeat at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament 2004, going down 2-1 to Morocco but still progressed to the quarter-finals as Group D winners following Portugal’s 4-2 loss to Costa Rica.
The West Asian side had appeared on course for their third consecutive win at the Olympics after taking the lead through Salih Sadir at the Pampeloponnisiako Stadium, but the North African side fought back with goals by Bouabid Bouden and Salaheddine Aqqal giving them victory."
Read more at Iraq claim top spot despite loss
"Portugal striker Luis Boa Morte was hit with a two-match ban after being sent-off in his team's opening Olympic Games football match with Iraq.
Boa Morte, who plays for English Premiership side Fulham, was dismissed in the 51st minute of the match in Patras on Thursday for kicking out at the heels of Bassim Abbas as his side tumbled to a shock 4-2 defeat."
Read more at Portugal striker Boa Morte hit with two-match ban
"The U.S. team complained, and FIFA responded. The president of the world soccer body said Monday that the yellow-card suspension rule has been changed for the Olympic women's tournament, easing concerns that the Americans could lose a key player for the quarterfinals.
"We will have a clear sheet when we go to the quarterfinals," Sepp Blatter said while greeting U.S. players at the athletes' hotel in Thessaloniki.
Under normal FIFA rules, a player who receives two yellow cards in the first round of a major tournament is suspended for the quarterfinals. Coach April Heinrichs had argued that the rule was unfair for these Olympics because not all the women's teams are playing the same number of first-round games."
Read more at FIFA Changes Yellow Card Rule for Olympics
"Instead of playing for their lives under a torturous regime, Iraq's soccer vagabonds played as though they had the time of their lives last night.
Pushing the play relentlessly in front of a delirious partisan crowd, the driven Iraqis struck for a pair of second-half goals to keep their fairy-tale Olympic odyssey alive with a 2-0 thumping of Costa Rica.
The victory advanced the Iraqis to the quarterfinals, a stunning showing for a once-proud program that had been demoralized and brutalized by Uday Hussein, the country's sadistic former Olympic director."
Read more at Iraq soccer vagabonds right at home
"First it was Nigeria, then Cameroon. Now it could be Mali.
The Olympic soccer tournament has thrown up two African champions in a row and there’s a chance of a hat-trick.
Mali first served notice of its credibility as a rising soccer nation at the African Nations Cup. It also eliminated Olympic champion Cameroon during the qualifying rounds for Athens 2004.
A 0-0 tie with Mexico made more people take note and on Saturday it flashed the clearest possible signal to its Olympic rivals by beating host nation Greece, 2-0.
“We got what we wanted and we’re very happy for that,” said Mamadi Berthe, scorer of the first goal in Thessaloniki. “We had good organization in our game, while by scoring the second goal we lost all track of anxiety and we were able to play our game. It was a good game and we enjoyed it.”"
Read more at Mali could pull off African hat-trick
"Carlos Tevez inspired Olympic tournament favorites Argentina to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Tunisia on Saturday, preserving their perfect record at the Athens Games.
The Boca Juniors playmaker scored a brilliant goal in the 39th minute to highlight a super-charged performance reminiscent of another great Argentine No. 10, Diego Maradona.
"Tevez is so important to this team," said Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa. "But all the attacking players are working well together -- it's almost perfect.""
Read more at Argentina takes Tunisia in Olympics
"Soccer action began last Wednesday, even though the Olympics technically did not get started until Friday night's opening ceremony, and the United States opened with a 3-0 win over Greece.
With only two of the 10 teams in the women's tourney being eliminated in the preliminary round, the United States' three group games are mere preludes to the main event.
The Americans will face Brazil Saturday in a battle of opening-game winners. Brazil defeated Australia on Wednesday, 1-0."
Read more at Team USA meets Brazil in soccer.
Iraq's footballers brought a ray of comfort to the war-torn country by upsetting Portugal 4-2 in their opening game of the Olympic men's soccer tournament on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Italy escaped a similar fate to Portugal as they fought back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw with Ghana in Group B.
Striker Alberto Gilardino pounced in the 83rd minute to earn Italy a point after an absorbing game in Volos. Paraguay moved top of the group with a 4-3 victory over Japan in Thessaloniki.
Source Reuters Olympics-Soccer-Iraq stun Portugal 4-2 at Athens Games
Group B
Ghana Vs Italy Kick off 18.30 Greek Time
Ghana have set themselves an goal for Athens which is to do better than they did in 1992, their last appearance in the Olympic Games, when they claimed the bronze medal. They have had a Pep talk from the country's President, John Agyekum Kufuor saying "I urge you to take inspiration from your predecessors, who were the first Africans to win an Olympic medal." Striker Poku was one of the stars of the qualifying campaign, Scoring 3 of his side's 7 goals. Italy on the other hand are hoping to add to there only olympic football gold gained at the berling games in 1936. In keeping with best Italian tradition, this is a team that knows how to defend well but they also know how to scrape a result.
Prediction
Ghana 0-1 Italy
Key Player
Andrea Pirlo
Group B
Paraguay vs Japan Kick Off 18.30 Greek Time
Paraguay biggest moment in their footballing history came in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament as recentley as January 2004 when the youngsters finished second beating Brazil in their final match to deny them the last Olympic berth, even though a draw would have been enough for the Brazilians to qualify. Coach Carlos Jara say's "We're going to Athens to give our all in every game, just as we did in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. If luck is on our side, we could even come home with a medal." and with that sort of attitude who can stop them. The Japanese have proven themselves one of the most consistent and gifted side's in the west and with them reaching the quarter-final stage of the last Men's Olympic Football Tournament in Sydney 2000, they will be hoping to go a little further and pick up a medal. They aslo have Asia's Young Player of the Year in Yoshito Okubo.
Prediction
Paraguay 0-1 Japan
Key Player
Yoshito Okubo
"Can an African team emulate Cameroon's feat?
Got an opinion? Express it here. Each week we throw up a different subject to let followers of African football have their say. Some of your views will be read on Fast Track - the BBC's African sports programme.
Africa's quest for Olympic football gold in Athens will commence on 11 August, when Mali take on Mexico in a Group A match.
Olympic men's fixtures
But does Mali or the continent's other four representatives at the Olympics - Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia and Nigeria's Super Falcons - the only African team in the women's event - have a real chance of winning the top prize?
Nigeria won gold at the 1996 games in Atlanta, with Cameroon equalling Nigeria's feat four years later in Sydney."
Read more at Will Africa win another Olympic gold?.
Group D
Iraq vs Portugal Kick Off 18.30 Greek Time
Despite all the other thing's going on in Iraq, football is helping the country out when Iraq's U-23 side scraped through a hard-fought AFC Group C to win the last but not least Asian spot at the Olympic Football Tournament, and if they go on to do well here could cause more dramatic celebrations in there home country. Iraq's U-23 side scraped through a hard-fought AFC Group C to win the last but not least Asian spot at the Olympic Football Tournament. Portugal are surley one of the favourites for the Gold medal and after the dissapointment of Euro 2004 in there home country, they will be wanting to do better than the senior team managed. With the Portugese proving the fitness of full team member Ronaldo,could be key to thee sucess.
Prediction
Iraq 0-3 Portugal
Key Player
Christiano Ronaldo
Group D
Costa Rica Vs Morocco Kick off 18.30 Greek Time
Costa Rica have won only one Olympic football match in its history.When they defeated Italy 1-0 in Los Angeles, 1984. They play with a bit of flair and a solid defence which saw them pick up 3-0 and 4-0 wins in qualifying. Morocco only just crept into the Athens competiton after they beat Angola and were hoping Uganda could triumph over Ethiopia.Morocco have played a total of 17 matches at the Games, losing 13, drawing twice, and recording two wins.
Prediction
Costa Rica 2-2 Morocco
Key Player
Erick Scott
We are tracking the results of preliminary matches of the Olympic Football Tournament Live at:
- Women's Football Results and Medalists
- Men's Football Results and Medalists
For all the latest results throughout the Olympics check out Latest Olympic Results
Argentina showed there true brilliance by putting six past Serbia Montenegro Goals from Star's Delgado, Gonzalez,Heinze,Rosales and two from Tevez in two Minutes before the end of the second half porved this to be one of the teams to beat. In the other games Mali and Mexico played out a 0-0 Draw, Tunisa held Australia to a 1-1 draw, while the host's Greece pulled back a 2-0 deficit to draw Korea 2-2.
Germany's Women managed to put eight goals past China in an 8 - 0 white wash, which included four goals from Women's world footballer of the year Birgit Prinz, the result to be fair flattered Germany who where only two up at half time and had China capatilised on early second half chances could have come away with a point.
The US beat the host nation Greece three goals to nil with there third coming from American football legend Mia Hamm.
Japan beat Sweden after a schoolgirl error from goalkeeper Joensson allowed Arakawa to slip it into the back of the net after 22 minutes.
In the final game Brazil scraped a 1 - 0 win over Australia who's defence just couldn't hold them.
Full Results Athens Olympics Official Site
Group C
Tunisia Vs Australia Kick Off 20:30 Greek Time
Tunisia conceded just 2 goals in 6 qualifying games making them one of the in form teams on the way into this tournament Up front the striking duo of Ali Zitouni and Saber Trabelsi both playing there club football in Tunisia provide the goals this is there fourth time at the Olympics and they will no doubt be hoping to break there duck of never winning a game. There record reads played 9, drew 3, lost 6. Australia have most of there major names missing from the competition partly due to age and partly due to not being allowed to go by there clubs one important person could be Craig Moore he goes into the Olympics having apparently sacrificed his career at Scottish club Rangers for the chance to represent Australia.The 28-year-old was transfer-listed and stripped of the Rangers captaincy after telling boss Alex McLeish that he was determined to represent his country at the Olympics.
Prediction
Tunisia 1 - 1 Australia
Key Man
Craig Moore - Australia
Group C
Argentina Vs Serbia & Montenegro Kick Off 20:30 Greek Time
Argentina have already upset Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson before the games begin by calling up there new signing Gabriel Heinze, whether or not he show's is potential is yet to be seen. With players from Barcelona,Valencia and both Milan clubs they are strong contenders to go further than there previous best silver medal. Serbia and Montenegro have done pretty well previously as part of Yugoslavia, they appeared in the Games 10 times, finishing runners-up on three occasions (1948, 1952 and 1956) collecting a bronze medal in 1984 and a cherished Gold in 1960. As Serbia and Montengro they have not qualified for a games since soeul in 1988 they will definitley get a few goals and probably let a few more in.
Prediction
Argentina 4 - 2 Serbia & Montenegro
Key Man
Gabriel Heinze - Argentina
Group A
Mali Vs Mexico Kick Off 20:30 Greek Time
This is Mali's first ever Olympic games and after the senior side got to the Semi finals of the African cup of Nation's the younger team are hoping to go one better and get a medal at this event, they have a top defence and Mad Diallo, Janvier Abouta and Dramane Traoré scored 10 goals between them in qualifying. Mexico on the other hand are flying high, ranked 8th in the world after getting knocked out of the last world cup by the USA they got the revenge on the way to the olympics knocking them out along the way when Rafael Marquez Lugo and Co knocked four goals past them.
Prediction
Mali 0 - 3 Mexico
Key Man
Rafael Marquez Lugo - Mexico
Group A
Greece Vs South Korea Kick Off 20:30 Greek Time
South Korea may be hoping that the Greek football team drop the olympic torch on the way to the opening ceremony in the hope that there luck has finally run out. Greece have just come back from Portugal where they pulled of the sporting shock of the year by winning the european championships and defeating Portugal twice and France on the way. Greece have never got past the first round of this tournament though to be fair they have only entered twice the last time being in 1952. Greece have the player of Euro 2004 missing in Theodoros Zagorakis but do have the home support which often does well and did South Korea enough favours to get them to the World Cup 2002 semi finals unfotunately since the departure of Guus Hiddink they have not really performed to there potential again but with Real Sociedad's Lee Chun-soo up front they should be able to score a few goals this tournament.
Prediction
Greece 2 - 1 South Korea
Key Man
Amanatidis - Greece
Group G
Brazil Vs Australia Kick Off 18:00 Greek Time
This could be a very interesting game with the Brazilians being the most skillfull of the womens football teams in the world take on the rough and tumble Australians. Brazil play Attacking football and Australia play defencivley meaning alot of Brazilian shots and a lot of Australian tackles, the Brazilians are starting to be noticed as serious players in the women's football game and Auatralia are hoping to finish higher than the 7th the managed in there home town of sydney, look out for Lana Harch who scored a hatrick in the 3 - 0 beating of Fiji in the qualifiers.
Prediction
Brazil 2 - 1 Australia
Key Player
Lana Harch
Group G
Greece Vs Usa Kick Off 18:00 Greek Time
Greece Qualify as hosts for this event and taken on number 2 in the world USA in there first match, the Greeks have improved tremendously over the past few years and will surely be encouraged by the male teams success in Euro 2004, the Greeks also have seven US based players in there squad witch should make this match a bit fierce. The US on the other hand are falling the other way, this olympics will be the last major tournament for most of there players as they hit that age and they will surely be hoping to go out with gold.
Prediction
Greece 1 - 1 USA
Key Player
Mia Hamm
Group E
Sweden Vs Japan Kick Off 18:00 Greek Time
Sweden were last years World Cup suprise getting to the final against Germany and only loosing to an extra time golden goal. They have although failed to keep up the results and finished a lowly fifith earlier in the year in the Algarve Cup, star striker Hanna Ljungberg is supposed to be back for them and could prove key in this match. Japan are another team who have never won a Olympic Match at the tournament, though they had some impressive results in the qualifiers beating Vietnam (7-0) and Thailand (6-0), they have good teamwork and could do well in Greece
Prediction
Sweden 3 - 0 Japan
Key Player
Hanna Ljungberg
Group F
Germany vs China Kick Off 18:00 Greek Time
Germany are the Current World Cup holders in women's football they have however lost two of there key players in Bettina Wiegmann and Maren Meinert who called time on there careers after the world cup triumph, they do have 2003's Women's World Player of the Year Birgit Prinz as there captain to spur them on. China are a team who according to there coach Zhang Haitao "Are on our way back to becoming one of the world's top sides." but i dont think this will be there year as thy only just managed to come through a pretty easy qualifying group.
Prediction
Germany 2 - 1 China
Key Player
Birgit Prinz
"At the end of a workout under a searing sun at an old Greek stadium, captain Julie Foudy gathered the U.S. women's soccer team in a midfield huddle.
"Let's get this party started!'' Foudy bellowed in a singsong voice.
The party that is the 2004 Olympic Games is indeed about to begin, with soccer kick-starting the festivities two days ahead of everything else.
The United States opens against Greece on Wednesday on the island of Crete, one of eight games two days before the opening ceremony for a sport that has to start early to squeeze everything in.
"We've been ready for a month,'' goalkeeper Briana Scurry said. "We're very excited to see what we've got.''
Most everyone knows what the United States has - a deep, talented team determined to reclaim its supremacy after disappointing finishes at the 2000 Olympics and the 2003 World Cup.
Greece, however, is another matter. The soccer-mad country that so euphorically celebrated its surprising men's European Championship title last month barely recognizes the women's game."
Read more at U.S. meets Greece in curtain raiser
"EUGEN GALEKOVIC has claimed the goalkeeping spot ahead of Brad Jones for Australia's opening Olympic men's soccer game with Tunisia in Crete tomorrow.
In probably the most contentious spot, coach Frank Farina selected Melbourne-based Galekovic ahead of the reserve Middlesbrough 'keeper.
Farina is sticking with the attacking formation he has used in the lead-up Games, effectively opting for three forwards.
The match is a vital one for the Olyroos who are expected to need at least a draw if they are to get past the preliminary round."
Read more at Farina opts for Galekovic
"THE gold diggers from Africa will be hoping to complete a hat-trick at the Athens Olympic Games soccer tournament starting today.
Nigeria won the 1996 Atlanta Games with a thrilling 3-2 win over Argentina in the final and Cameroon triumphed on penalties against Spain in the 2000 Sydney final despite conceding a first-minute goal.
A shock-riddled qualifying competition for Greece saw Cameroon and Nigeria eliminated and of the four Sydney challengers, only Morocco survived as South Africa flopped.
Morocco will be joined in the Athens Games by 1992 bronze medallists Ghana, Tunisia and debutants Mali.
Mali drew Greece, Mexico and South Korea in Group A; Ghana face Italy, Japan and Paraguay in Group B; Tunisia tackle Argentina, Australia and Serbia and Montenegro in Group C; and Morocco meet Costa Rica, Iraq and Portugal in Group D.
Group winners and runners-up qualify for the quarter-finals and Mali and Morocco appear to have the easier tasks while Tunisia confront star-studded Argentina and Ghana confront European Under-21 champions Italy. "
Read more at African gold diggers eyeing hat-trick as football kicks off today.
"Chinese women footballers are preparing for the opening match to be held against Germany, Zhang Haitao, head coach for the Chinese squad, said here Sunday.
Zhang said that his team, which arrived in Athens Friday, have undergone four training sessions in Patras, where the opening match is to be held."
Read more at Chinese women footballers preparing for opening match.
"Kim also played for South Korea's A team at the Asia Cup
South Korean footballer Kim Nam-il will miss the Olympics after breaking his leg in a warm-up match.
The 27-year-old midfielder was one of the three older players chosen to represent his country and will now be replaced by Chung Kyung-ho.
Kim broke his leg during a practice game in Paris where South Korea have been preparing for the Athens event."
Read more at Korean Kim out of Olympics
"Portugal have published medical evidence to prove that Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo is fit to take part in the Olympic football tournament.
Ronaldo was selected in Portugal's 18-man Olympic squad much to the anger of his club side as he will miss the start of their Premiership campaign.
United assistant boss Carlos Queiroz, who himself is Portuguese, had told newspaper A Bola that the call-up could exacerbate niggling injuries after his gruelling summer in Euro 2004.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) issued a statement on its website, saying: "The player Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at the training camp on August 1."
Read more at Ronaldo fit for Olympics.
"It sounds like the ideal combination when soccer and the Olympics meet.
But it doesn't work that way, at least in the men's competition. Soccer can't grab the spotlight away from athletics, swimming and gymnastics, which tend to dominate the games.
The Olympic performances of athletes such as Jesse Owens, Mark Spitz, Carl Lewis and Olga Korbut are etched in the minds of sports fans.
But how many recall Nwankwo Kanu's match-winning goals that earned Nigeria a historic gold medal at Atlanta in 1996?
The lanky star, who played a minor role in Arsenal's Premier League title