Olympics FanHouse http://olympics.fanhouse.com Olympics FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://olympics.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif Olympics FanHouse http://olympics.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Argentina Just Became the Favorites to Win Men's Soccer Gold in Beijinghttp://olympics.fanhouse.com/2008/07/03/argentinas-olympic-soccer-team-is-loaded/http://olympics.fanhouse.com/2008/07/03/argentinas-olympic-soccer-team-is-loaded/http://olympics.fanhouse.com/2008/07/03/argentinas-olympic-soccer-team-is-loaded/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

So Argentina recently announced the roster for its Olympic soccer team. It's overage players are Boca Juniors midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme, Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano and Inter Milan center-back Nicolas Burdisso. That's in addition to Lionel Messi from Barcelona, Fernando Gago from Real Madrid and Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid, who are all under 23.

The rest of the field suddenly looks quite doomed, doesn't it? With Ivory Coast, Australia and Serbia in Group A with them, Argentina looks like a lock to go through as the group winner.

That's really bad news for the USA, which is in group B with Japan, the Netherlands and Nigeria. The Group A winner plays the Group B runner-up in the quarterfinals. If the USA wants any hope of a medal in men's soccer, it must win Group B. Finishing second likely means a quarterfinal tie against Argentina. Yes, the senior team held Argentina to a 0-0 draw a month ago, but that wasn't a competitive match at a neutral site. Plus, most of that USA backline won't be in Beijing.

U.S. Soccer has yet to announce its roster for the Olympics, though Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Freddy Adu are expected to be on it.

Argentina Just Became the Favorites to Win Men's Soccer Gold in Beijing originally appeared on Olympics FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>ArgentinaJuanRomanRiquelmeLionelMessiusmntDavid J. WarnerThu, 03 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EST Cuban U-23 Defectors Train With L.A. Galaxyhttp://olympics.fanhouse.com/2008/04/14/cuban-u-23-defectors-train-with-beckham/http://olympics.fanhouse.com/2008/04/14/cuban-u-23-defectors-train-with-beckham/http://olympics.fanhouse.com/2008/04/14/cuban-u-23-defectors-train-with-beckham/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Remember those kids from the Cuban U-23 squad that defected during the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament? It appears three of them found a place to practice -- Los Angeles.

Goalkeeper Jose Manual Miranda, midfielder Yordany Alvarez and defender Yenier Bermundez made the trip from Florida to California to train with the L.A. Galaxy last week. They are not signed to any contracts yet -- there are likely immigration and asylum issues to settle first -- but the three amigos are expected to stay with the club through most of this week as the Galaxy prepare to face the Houston Dynamo.

No word on whether David Beckham bought them dinner at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles.

Miranda in particular played brilliantly for Cuba against the U.S. U-23 team before he and four other players fled their hotel in Tampa. I'm a little surprised MLS hasn't tried to expedite his naturalization papers. The Galaxy need all the help they can get.

(H/T: The Offside)

Cuban U-23 Defectors Train With L.A. Galaxy originally appeared on Olympics FanHouse on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>CONCACAFDavid J. WarnerMon, 14 Apr 2008 08:20:00 EST