Olympics 2000 - The Football Tournament

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OLYMPICS 2000:
The Football Tournament

[

DEUTSCHE VERSION ]

schedule:

about

group A

group B

group C

group D

quarter-f

semi-f

final+3rd

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Sydney 2000
- The Olympic Football Tournament

On this site you will find:

Links to the most important information sources:

> THE SHOT LIVE (will serve as a portal to all information sources and will add own coverage)
> The History of Olympic soccer (FIFA)
> The Olympic soccer tournament (FIFA: Players lists, all names, all stats etc.)
> Socceraction (a portal to world wide Football live coverages)
> Dailysoccer headlines (Football news headlines ticker feeded with Reuters reports)

Additional coverages, possibly live reports if available and if not available anywhere else! (otherwise links)

> check THE SHOT LIVE for coverages
> You want to be notified of coverages? Leave your e-mail address

A preview and match reports on matches already played:

Group A: Nigeria, Australia, Italy, Honduras
preview, schedule, reports
Group B: Chile, Spain, Morocco, Korea Rep.
preview, schedule, reports
Group C: Czech Rep., Kuwait, Cameroon, USA
preview, schedule, reports
Group D: Japan, Slovakia, South Africa, Brazil
preview, schedule, reports

tournament favorites (before first match):

Walter Hill:
1.Brazil (25%)*
1.Italy (25 %)
3.Spain (15%)
4.Cameroon (9 %)
5. Nigeria (5.7 %)
6. Czech Rep (5 %)
biggest outsiders: Honduras, Kuwait

Gera:
1.Brazil (28 %)
2.Italy (23 %)
3.Spain (11.5%)
4.Nigeria (8.6 %)
5.Czech Rep (6.9 %)
6.Australia (5.7 %)
biggest outsiders: Honduras, Kuwait

The Shot:
1.Brazil (23%)
2.Spain (15 %)
2.Italy (15 %)
4.Cameroon (12 %)
5.Czech Rep, Australia, Japan, Nigeria (5 %)
biggest outsiders: Kuwait, Slovakia

*the interpretation is = Walter Hill says: if the tournament was played a 100 times, Brazil would win 25 of those. But whether this tournament is one of those 25 or one of those 9 that are predicted for Cameroon or any other case, nobody can tell in advance. The percentage is derived from the odds given by the bookmakers. The Shot's percentage is made up as if, The Shot does not take any bets.

schedule:

about

group A

group B

group C

group D

quarter-f

semi-f

final+3rd

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Group A

PREVIEW:
Italy are tournament favorites along with Brazil. Serie A only begins in October because of the Olympics and the Series A still puts most players, so also players of other teams, before the Spanish Primera division. The Italian team of coach Marco Tardelli impressed in the qualification, in which one they knocked out co-favorites France.
Italy arrives, like Brazil, with a real U23 (born 1977 or later), nevertheless with some well known names like Abbiati, Gattuso, Ventola, Pirlo or Ambrosini of Milan, Inter and Juves.
Australia, that was once regarded as co-favorites as well, is weakened by numerous injury and other cancellations. It is to be waited, whether the home-advantage is enough to play for the big price.
Nigeria has to suffer particularly from the disdain of the Olympic tournament in Germany and England. Many players are under pressure to decide in favour of their club careers especially in the context of more African Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers early 2001: Another four-week absence in September might harm their club and their own career seriously. So, Nigeria has had difficulties to compose a balanced and powerful troop. It is some big talents admitteldly (Ikedia, Aghahowa, Okunowo) with it, however there were the obligatory test-game-disasters: Within a few days two times 1:5 at South Korea, who are also at Sydney.
Honduras is the unknown on the bill. They eliminated Mexico after penalty shoot-out and so the actual Central America-giant is missing this time. The National team did well recently in World Cup qualifiers but this group will be a tough one for the Under 23 side.

Sep 13, 2000
Nigeria - Honduras 3:3
Australia - Italy 0:1
Sep 16, 2000
Italy - Honduras 3:1
Australia - Nigeria 2:3
Sep 19, 2000
Italy - Nigeria 1:1
Australia - Honduras 1:2

Italy	3	5-2	7
Nigeria	3	7-6	5
Honduras	3	6-7	4
Australia	3	3-6	0

first two have qualified for quarter-final

schedule:

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group A

group B

group C

group D

quarter-f

semi-f

final+3rd

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Group B

PREVIEW:
South Korea will be all other than an easy opponent for the tradition-steeped Spain, Morocco and Chile. The Koreans want necessarily to prove themselves with the WM 2002 and want to show that the stagnation 1998 had been only a temporary one. If they are so threatening, as their two 5:1 victories over Nigeria suggest, they have already overcome their biggest deficiency.
Spain are co-favorites of course. The Under 20 World Champions of 1999 must abstain on a few key players however, that the Spanish national-coach has reserved for the national team and World Cup qualifiers. Nevertheless, players like Angulo, Xavi, Gabri are already Champions League experienced. And not just a little.
Chile exerts everything in order to provide another surprise. There was the first as in the spectacular South America qualification they left behind Argentina and the highly assessed Uruguay.
Chile needed som luck anyway: in the preliminary Chile had lost 1:5 to Colombia and was idle at the last day. However Brazil beat the Columbians by 9:0 (!) and so the Chileans still progressed by a two-and a half goal better goal-difference.
Now, one exerts the most experienced players of the tournament: all in front Inter striker Zamorano.
Morocco is expected to do quite ordinary but without any huge impact here. Striker Bassir from Spanish chamions La Coruna will not only provide impact to the attack but will also play for a contract with another club, as La Coruna drowns in players. A player who could draw some attention is #7 Kharbouches of Raja Casablanca, with a conspicious style and already some experience of the Club World Championships.

Sep 14, 2000
Korea Rep. - Spain 0:3
Morocco - Chile 1:4
Sep 17, 2000
Chile - Spain 3:1
Morocco - Korea Rep. 0:1
Sep 20, 2000
Chile - Korea Rep. 0:1
Morocco - Spain 0:2

Chile 3 7-3 6

Spain 3 6-3 6

Korea Rep. 3 2-3 6

Morocco 3 1-7 0

first two have qualified for quarter-final

schedule:

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group A

group B

group C

group D

quarter-f

semi-f

final+3rd

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Group C

PREVIEW:
Cameroon have been the big hope from African view. After lousy years, the Cameroonian (national teams) football is back on the rise. And the Under 23 has already impressed similar to the national team that is arguably the strongest African team of the moment. But several players will not come to play at the Olympics, most because of club involvements at France.
Nevertheless it is to be reckoned with Cameroon, especiall after Lauren Etame Mayer has managed to break through the antiolympic barriers of Arsenal London. The midfield-player, as looked at best player of the this year's African Nations Cup, possibly will act again on the half right midfield side with Geremi Njitap of Real Madrid an unstoppable duo on the right half of the field. Captain Song is under pressure from Liverpool not to play, he is in the squad but perhaps will not arrive.
Striker Patrick Mboma (AC Parma) profits from the Italian olympic break and probably becomes a duo with super-talent Eto'o again. Newcomer Patrice Abanda waits in the hindquarters as well.
The three 'Nobodies' Czech Republic, Kuweit, and USA look like only playing for second spot against this power, but one never knows...

Sep 13, 2000
Cameroon - Kuwait 3:2
USA - Czech Rep. 2:2
Sep 16, 2000
Czech Rep. - Kuwait 2:3
USA - Cameroon 1:1
Sep 19, 2000
Czech Rep. - Cameroon 1:1
USA - Kuwait 3:1

USA 3 6-4 5

Cameroon 3 5-4 5

Kuwait 3 6-8 3

Czech Rep. 3 5-6 2

first two have qualified for quarter-final

schedule:

about

group A

group B

group C

group D

quarter-f

semi-f

final+3rd

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Group D

PREVIEW:
A very interesting and probably exciting group:
To Brazil probably the meaning of an Olympic victory would be the most important. Despite all efforts they have 'only' won silver yet twice.
The team is, as also hardly to expect other, the most spectacular at the start. However coach Luxemburgo has abstained consistently on older players and wants to get the title with the team, that managed the qualification in impressive manner (24:6 goals in 7 games,% victories, 2 ties).
Alex, Ronaldinho and Co. should fill the fans with enthusiasm. Especially since their world level tournament jinx opponents Argentinien are not at the start.
South Africa will also begin with a quite good team, among others are Quinton Fortune of Manchester United and the big talent Siyabonga Nomvete. Also Delron Buckley could have his international coming out.
Japan can be even called the tournaments dark horse. But the team that surprised 1999 at the Under 20 World Cup is without young star Shinji Ono, maybe the brightest talent of Asia. Either he is not fully fit after a heavy knee-injury or afterall it is coach Troussier, who has had troubles before accepting the cult around young stars. Definitively a pity for the fans as Ono might have come up with some Zidane-like show.
But the good news are: The actual big Japanese star Nakata of AS Rome is with the team and though only a handful of those vice Under 20 world champions are included in the squad a lot can be expected. The usual Japanese problems are physical inferiority and a lack of scoring ability. At Nigeria 99 their passing game was outstanding, they were technically skillful and the team fighted to compensate for some deficits with enormous running work.
The Slovakia qualified with the help of the home-advantage at the European Under 21 championships. With Jarolim at least one key player is absend because of injury. However for the Slovakia, this tournament is somewhat particular: Never they have participated at such a big tournament since independence. They will give everything for the special occasion.