Why isn forlan playing in the olympics

They want to win it after failing to win the World Cup there two years ago, when Brazil conceded seven goals to Germany in the semi-final. No matter what they say, clubs are never happy to lose their players to their countries. They pay the wages and risk them getting injured. The Olympics have already been surrounded with enough negativity and bad publicity. But I hope they go well, and that Rio is ready — for the great people of the city, for Brazil, for South America.

I hope that Latin America shows the world that they can stage a successful Olympic Games. Rio is a truly magnificent city, so beautiful with the mountains and the beaches. To not have Neymar there would be more bad publicity. Plus, Barca will benefit if he becomes more of a star and his profile goes even higher. Countries take it seriously, too. Brazil is not a country so renown for cycling or track and field.

Football is different — they can win it. Look at the previous winners. Echo what everybody else is saying, reallying looking forward to the Latin American teams at the Olympics. Lack of movement, scared witless on the ball and inability to contol the tempo will see these u23 sides rip through GB. Its one of the most open Olympic football tournements ever.

Spain, Uruguay and Brazil will be there. Even teams like South Korea, Japan and Morocco have selected very competitive teams. Complain about this comment Comment number 4. Interesting article Tim, where did you draw your inspiration to write about Uruguay? It will be interesting to see how the team shapes up, especially with the most probable tag of being 3rd favourites. My two teams to look out for will be Belarus and Senegal. ALso interesting that Argentina will be missing for the first time in years.

They're normally strong in this competition. Here's a question. Historically, Argentina have always been strong in the youth tournaments and the Olympic ones, but then have done comparatively poorly in WC. Why is that? On a final note, this is surely a blog custom written for Yakubus Diet. He'll surely be salivating at the prospect of writing about his beloved team. Complain about this comment Comment number 5. Found very useful information on behalf of the social network of people in here, very nice to meet you and nice sharing.

Good works. Complain about this comment Comment number 6. It's a great shame that the British sporting public seem indifferent - or more likely ignorant - to the historical significance of Uruguay in Olympic football, and to the potential of this squad. When I left England it was divided into youngsters who thought that football was invented in by the Premier League, and older people who "know" that Dennis Waterman won the first ever World Cup in for West Auckland playing as England.

The idea that Uruguay revolutionised world football, led to the establishment of the World Cup and created the forerunner of Spain's short-passing game is simply virtually unknown in England today.

In recent weeks, those of us who do pay attention to Tim Vickery and Jonathan Wilson have had to endure other "experts" describing Spain's three consecutive championships as "unprecedented" what, since Uruguay were world champions in , and ? The crowning achievement of Oscar Washington Tabarez is that he has restored his nation of just 3 million people to the very top table of international football.

And he has done it in an incredibly thoughtful and progressive way. He has turned upside down the whole process of grooming players from an early age, and he has educated his senior players to understand their history and responsibilities. Only in Uruguay were the something national team captain Lugano and star player Forlan desperate to play at the Olympics. I have never seen a national team anywhere with the cohesion and team spirit that Tabarez has fostered. You only have to see the celebrations after every goal they score: Cavani scores precious few as he is played as a midfielder to accommodate Suarez and Forlan yet he responds to every goal like a fan.

And whereas in Argentina an under-educated, under-privileged boy like Tevez or Maradona grows into a man like Tevez or Maradona, Tabarez ensures that the likes of Luis Suarez get a crash course in history and social responsibilty and develops into a more rounded man and footballer.

Please don't bring up Evra here: the star player for Uruguay 88 years ago in was the "maravilla negra" Jose Leandro Andrade, who hailed from Suarez' home town of Salto and was the son of a 98 year old escaped Brazilian slave, who pretty much put black footballers on the world map - in "France Football" named him in the all-time Top Ten World Cup players.

Brazil's Olympic team has been playing together for a year and is clearly being groomed as the World Cup side, and I think that they are slightly better than this Uruguay side, which is vulnerable down the flanks and under-manned in central midfield. Uruguay's return to the Olympics is important for them, after a gap of 84 years, and the fact that they have such a strong squad makes it even more poignant. But something bigger lies just ahead: last week Diego Lugano senior national captain met with the children and grandchildren of the players who beat Brazil in in the Maracana to win the World Cup.

It's another example of how seriously Tabarez has the Uruguayan team taking their historical responsibilities. And Lugano said what everyone in Uruguay is thinking: the current senior team has the ability to shock the world again at a World Cup in Brazil in They might not win, but they want to go as far as they possibly can.

And while I tip this Brazil team to beat this Uruguay side at the Olympics, I suspect that if they meet again in Brazil in the pressure of the occasion just might see happen all over again. Complain about this comment Comment number 7. A good article as ever. For the size of their population which I believe is slightly greater than that of Wales their achievements in football are truly amazing. I look forward to seeing them in action over the next couple of weeks.

Complain about this comment Comment number 8. Team GB is a bit of a red herring in that it is essentially a mishmash of players. Those who were not good enough to get into the England Euro squad, were prepared to play even though their association were not in favour the Welsh players and were made available by their clubs. Even then there were some odd exclusions Rhodes for example. Spain have an extremely strong senior team so it is not surprising that many of the young players have not broken into the senior team.

There are question marks about whether the younger generation will be as good as Alonso, Iniesta, Puyol, Villa and Xavi but this will probably only be an issue after As for Brazil they have essentially built a completely new team from the last World Cup. They may win the Olympics but most recognise they will need to improve massively to succeed in Complain about this comment Comment number 9.

I would love to see Uruguay win the Olympic football. If only as a reward for Luis Suarez who has been the victim of orchestrated and wide spread xenophobia ever since he started playing in England. For a country with a population of only about 3 million to achieve World Cups, Copa America and Olympic wins is truly something special. Complain about this comment Comment number At 23rd Jul , norsefox wrote How many of this team are part of the senior squad Tim? At 23rd Jul , BaggiosPonytail wrote: 1 norsefox An interesting observation about the number of players in the Olympic squad who also play in the senior team.

Team GB is a bit of a red herring in that it is essentially a mishmash of players Well, Brazil see the Olympics as vital preparation for the World Cup in , as well as a tournament they are taking seriously in order to win. I expect to see a lot of these players in the Brazil squad at the World Cup in 2 years time, particularly if they do well.

With the European nations, the Olympics being in the same year as a Euros is unfortunate timing and means their squads will be far weaker, as the clubs simply won't countenance their players being involved in 2 tournaments over a single summer. Which is a shame for the national teams, but also quite sensible to be honest.

He tried to wind up an opponent with an unacceptable bait, he got caught out, get over it. If, hypothetically, Javier Hernandez had been accused of doing the same thing to Glen Johnson it is plainly obvious you and your fellow supporters of a certain club would have a quite different opinion.

Grow up. I'm guessing that NI and Scotland were not willing to let any of their players go? Otherwise why on earth was sordell chosen ahead of rhodes? It's a poor team in comparison to some of the others out there and it could potentially be a bit of an embarrassment. I'm struggling to think of any under 23 NI players to be honest. The only positives are likely to be Butland who looks a really good prospect , Allen and Cleverley.

Good to see an old school nation doing well again. I remember seeing them win the world cup in my youth shortly before i turned Forlan has been a cracking player but will be past it. I wonder if someone else can step up and fill the creative void. Comment number At 23rd Jul , Vox Populi wrote: I did not even mention it in my post. The 'trial' was a wonderful example of politics, a very poor example of justice, and yet another depressing example of xenophobia.

Xenophobia is rife through all levels of English football. I guess people will have to realise that despite the FA's defeaning silence regarding recent tweets by England's Rio Ferdinand and any follow up on England's John Terry reason case, there will still be some who will see through the politics that were at play during Uruguay's Luis Suarez trial and demand justice. Xenophobia is the big problem in English football.

I hope cleverley, ramsey and allen get put into the centre mid positions. Team GB look short of options in attack though. Unless they play bellamy as a striker? It's a great achievement for Uruguay based on their small population, though having a large population is not necessarily an ingredient to success. It's been done to death already. Suarez got a raw deal but he should have known better. To say that EPL is "xenophobic" given the diverse nationalities that play is frankly ridiculous.

They did the same to Rio for his missed drugs test because, despite letting off 6 other players for the same offence, he was a 'big name'. Ironically compared to the England team at Euro this team has a lot of talented central midfielders but they wont be much use if there is nobody to receive the ball in the final third of the pitch. Informative article as always from Tim. Just a few things that should be pointed out though.

Uruguay play an essentially counter-attacking style of Football with physical and aggressive tactics when possible. Yet they are being praised by pundits as the model to follow if success is to be achieved at international level. When Carlos Dunga was using some of these tactics, along with a passing game, he was heavily criticised for making Brazil a 'boring' but inevitably successful team.

So why the different attitude? Also the current Brazil Olympic team, though they looked quite good in their game against GB, you have to remember how bad GB were.

The latter looked like a hastily assembled last-minute bunch of players who had never played together. Some of the names i had never even heard of before.

Also Brazil are missing a prolific striker, they cannot rely on their defenders and midfielders to get goals. This Brazil set up needs to prove it against stronger opposition before they can even be considered contenders for the WC Tim, another good read from your goodself. I am looking forward to watching Uruguay this summer and I hope we see them play in the manner of the full national team.

If they do, it will be extremely difficult for any team facing them. For me they have been the most balanced team in terms of play, at full international level, for sometime now. Strong in most areas on the pitch with a few outstanding talents thrown in to create what is needed to be successful. They certainly do play from back to front. It is interesting, you mention Forlan's role, the WC and 'Copa' definitely showed his effect when dropped to a deeper position.

I believe he is the one player who will be impossible to replace, like for like. Ramirez, I doubt his ability to replicate Forlan's play at this stage of his career, it may well be that Uruguay will have to be patient and adopt a slightly different approach. Of course he may eventually fulfill the role but i do see him as a more conventional defined type of player.

The WC is still two years away, plus often its during the competition itself that players emerge. I wouldnt worry too much about that when you look at the array of talent and goal scoring midfielders Brazil have. It would be unwise to read too much into the performance of Brazil at the Olympics, even if they go on to win it.

Neymar clearly has a huge amount of talent but at the moment reminds me of Cristiano Ronaldo at that age - great with the ball at his feet, lots of tricks but not that influencial. Hulk certainly has pace and power but i'm not convinced about his technical ability. Oscar was the most impressive player for me and could grow into the role of main playmaker for the team. I mentioned in a previous post the balance of Uruguay runs through the entire team. Brasil definitely had a reliance on backs under Dunga therefore it was unbalanced.

By the end of his reign Brasil had become very predictable. Yes of course he has a few tricks but he is a born goal machine. I would say in all the time I've watched him, his one problem is his physical strength on the pitch, at the moment he is a mddleweight competing against heavyweights.

He has never looked physically strong and is certainly not robust. True you do not have to possess the physique of Hulk to ride a tackle but you do need strength. Yes Neymar has nearly all of the attributes to become a really great player. As you point out he will probably need to become physically tougher to fully realise his potential. The likes of Best, Maradona and Messi had or have that steel to go with the amazing technical ability which is important to succeed on the biggest stages.

His recent comments seem to suggest that he does now 'know better' with regards to how the politics work within English football.

I strongly maintain that xenophobia is rife throughout English football. Look at comments that the most successful manager in English football has made about Germans, Uruguayans and Italians previously. Look at the media not just the red tops. Look at for example the Panorama episode on Ukraine and Poland.

Occasionally it's thinly veiled, but a large percent of the time it is blatant. Frail, bow legged, looked like a strong wind would blow him over. But give him the ball and he was at least the equal of any of the great Brazilian players. At 23rd Jul , BaggiosPonytail wrote: Neymar clearly has a huge amount of talent but at the moment reminds me of Cristiano Ronaldo at that age - great with the ball at his feet, lots of tricks but not that influencial His Neymar's goalscoring record is very impressive.

In all competitions, his record for Santos is goals in appearances. All according to Wikipedia I'd suggest that Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't scoring as prolifically at the age of 20, although presumably the Brazilian league isn't at the same level as the EPL.

However, those are very impressive stats and certainly suggest at least that Neymar is an influential player. It's what the FA do to "make examples" of players. Like Rooney's 4 game ban for swearing. If that was a League 1 player, nobody would care.

I'm not sure whether you were reffering to SAF as xenophobic comments. Again, maybe taken out of context, but given the fact that he's managed players from those nationalities amongst many others it would seem a bit stupid to say he's xenophobic.

Unless, of course when we joke or say "spanish players are cynical and have a tendancy to go down under minimal contact" is also xenophobic? Not sure I agree with those posters saying Brazil are short of strikers. Perhaps the problem here is that we have been spoilt by the sheer brilliance of previous generations. Most International teams would be happy to pick from Hulk, Pato or Daimio with a huge prospect like Neymar also playing between the lines.

Maybe with all the talented Brazilian playmakers coming through, they will even copy the Spanish style and play without a recognised striker? I go back to a previous question, who on earth is marvin sordell? Is he the heir to michael ricketts? Why were none of the England U not called up?

At 23rd Jul , JamTay1 wrote: I strongly maintain that xenophobia is rife throughout English football. Look at comments that the most successful manager in English football has made about Germans, Uruguayans and Italians previously Funny how he has also signed players of those nationalities for his club. Press 'Enter' to see all results. Most Recent Stories. Log In Subscribe.

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