Luis Suarez has been named in Uruguay's preliminary squad for the games, and is expect to make the final squad. This will mean he will miss the USA tour and the first few competitive games of the season. Sebastian Coates is set to compete to, with Bellamy representing team GB. Transfer target Gaston Ramirez is also likely to represent Uruguay. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/live...-suarez-and-sebastian-coates-100252-31285045/
I don't mind them playing in the Olympics and respresenting their country. We should have the squad to deal with the Europa League qualifier and we've just got to hope that none of the three get injured! I find the fact that England have a friendly with Italy three days before the Premier League season starts more annoying.
Agreed, competitive football, no problem. Slightly annoying but can understand. Stupid international freindly, a month after Euro's and 3 days before Prem starts is ridiculous.
Its strikers I'd be a little concerned about for Europa. Puts a lot of pressure on Carroll. Though we should have a new striker by then. Sterling, Shelvey, Henderson, Kelly, Sterling and Robinson could get good opportunities to impress.
Better than any pre-season to be involved with the Uruguay set up as they prepare and compete. Can't begrudge them chances to play, especially at the Olympics (which they take seriously in SA). Coates will probably grab the chance to play - let's face it, he'd only be on our bench as the league starts or possibly starting in the EL. Hope we have Ramirez by then, and another striker!
They aren't apparently. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/01/london-2012-olympics-gb-football Bellamy seems to be our only GB player in the olympics.
in the end the olympics for football = stupid and all we have to do is pull a "bale" and fake an injury here.
Yeah but the South American countries take it seriously so don't think it would be the wisest idea to force those players not to compete. Really think it is good preperation for the likes of Coates and Suarez to play a few competitive games. It'll also save them travelling time seeing as the Olympic games are a lot closer to home than our pre-season tour games if we can't cope without them for a couple of Europey qualifiers then we have serious issues.
I think this pretty much typifies the English/British arrogance. Instead of belittling such tournaments such as Europa League and Olympics, why not take them seriously and take pride in winning such events. Tasting success at any level is always sweet.
People that aren't overjoyed about Olympic football need to get over it, the players that will be competing will take it seriously and it will effect clubs going into the new season. Whether you like it or not, the Olympics WILL be happening shortly and football WILL be a part of that. Why not just get behind the team...? The only reason we don't take it seriously is because we are Team GB at the Olympics and so don't normally submit a football side. If we regularly competed as England then you can bet your bottom dollar that there would be more interest!
Don't the English media take it lightly as a self defence mechanism for when Team GB is ripped to shreds by Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil? I'm glad they didn't pick Beckham - imagine the media event it would have been (and actually probably still will be).
I think in fairness its not taken seriously because we don't usually have a team in it. The media take the world cup seriously despite the fact we'll get ripped to shreds by the likes of Argentina, Uruguay or Brazil. Personally I couldn't give a **** but I've no problem with players who want to take part.
Yeh... It's more football at the end of the day. Hate all the 'Olympic spirit' bullshit we get fed... let's face it, it's a day in the sun for sports no-one likes enough for the other 3 years and 11 months to see more of.
come on guys.... the olympics and football IS stupid. what you have is a pandering to the FIFA overlords here with a stupid u23 set up. The Olympics if you are at all interested is the PINNACLE of someone's career... when you go watch the olympics are you really going to watch the golf, tennis or football? NO you are going to watch the 100m's and other athletic events plus the cycling and rowing and such. When the sportsmen are turning up with a general lack of interests or a blase approach i think it says it all..... an u23 tournament is a pointless excerise to add another sport to the olympic catch all. the fifa world cup is the pinnacle. I don't see zavi, iniesta or torres dying to "complete" thier international medal collections with an Olympics medal and i don't hear about messi or Ronaldo dying to win one... and that says it all.
