After returning early from the Olympics because the Belgian soccer federation made a deal with Vincent Kompany’s club Hamburg SV we received the news today that he’ll be moving to Manchester City for 8.5 million Euros.
Kompany who wanted to stay in Beijing, felt left out by the Belgian federation with the demand of Hamburg to return immediately to the club and prepare for the new season. I think this situation made sure that the professional friendship between Kompany and Hamburg came to an end.
So I’m asking myself, why did Hamburg continue to push the Belgian Soccer Federation and Kompany to return?
Imagine if Belgium win’s from Brazil tomorrow and claims the bronze medal, how do you think Kompany would feel? He could make a serious difference with his maturity. I think Hamburg didn’t had the right to get him back from the Olympics to sell him straight after, at least let him play a few more matches than and hope for the best.
It’s anyone’s childhood dream to perform on the Olympics.
So I wish Kompany the best of luck with his new club in England!
Tags News • Transfers • Defenders • Midfielders • Belgium • England • Germany • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
Nigeria – Belgium 4 – 1
Argentina – Brazil 3 – 0
Bronze medal match: Belgium – Brazil
Gold medal match: Nigeria – Argentina
My prediction:
Belgium will take revenge for the undeserved loss in the first match which they’ve lost against Brazil with 1-0. If they win they also take home the first medal home for Belgium.
The gold medal winner will be Argentina with no doubt. Theyre strong, creative and have lots of stamina.
Tags Argentina • Belgium • Brasil • Nigeria • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
Quarter-final at the Olympic Soccer tournament between Italy and Belgium
What a game, after a bit more than 15 minutes Italy was awarded a penalty and Vermaelen from Belgium was shown the red card. So more than 75 minutes left playing with a player less than the strong Italy side.
But Belgium didn’t showed any fear and went full for the victory, Dembele scores a disputable header that (did or did not) went over the line. And a few minutes before half time, Kevin Miralas scored the 1-2. With a man less situation, Belgium did not only equalized, but went a goal ahead also.
In the second half Haroun got the chance to put Belgium ahead 3-1, but he just missed the header.
Then a few minutes later Italy was denied a second penalty by the referee, and were disallowed the 2-2 on off-side, but this was a correct decision.
Then in the 78th minute Italy again was rewarded a penalty, Rossi scored again to make it 2-2.
But then Dembele came into action with a marvelous goal. Starting the action in the midfield he almost dribbled every Italian on the field, and finished brilliantly to score the winning goal.
Now up to meet Nigeria in the semi-finals and then maybe going for Gold?
Other semi final will be played between Argentina and Brazil.
Brazil won from Cameroon in the extra time, 2-0
Argentina won from Netherlands, also in extra time, 2-1
And Belgium’s opponent in the semi final won from Côte d’Ivoire, 2-0
Tags Results • Argentina • Belgium • Brasil • Nigeria • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
Group A:
Côte d’Ivoire vs Australia:1-0
Argentina vs Serbia: 2-0
Group B:
Netherlands vs Japan: 1-0
Nigeria vs USA: 2-1
Group C:
China vs Brazil: 0-3
New Zealand vs Belgium: 0-1
Group D:
Korea Republic vs Honduras: 1-0
Cameroon vs Italy: 0-0
Tags Results • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
Group A:
Argentina vs Australia:1-0
Serbia vs Côte d’Ivoire: 2-4
Group B:
Nigeria vs Japan: 2-1
USA vs Netherlands: 2-2
Group C:
New Zealand vs Brazil: 0-5
Belgium vs China: 2-0
Group D:
Cameroon vs Honduras: 1-0
Italy vs Korea Republic: 3-0
Tags Results • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
Group A:
Australia vs Serbia: 1-1
Côte d’Ivoire vs Argentina: 1-2
Group B:
Japan vs USA: 0-1
Netherlands vs Nigeria: 0-0
Group C:
Brazil vs Belgium : 1-0
China vs New Zealand: 1-1
Group D:
Honduras vs Italy: 0-3
Korea Republic vs Cameroon: 1-1
Tags Results • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
This is Honduras 2nd time they’ve qualified for the Olympic tournament, the first time was in Sydney in 2000. Back then they’ve ended third in the group stage. With one of the most talented generations since a long time, they hope to do better than in Sydney.
The squad:
1 Kevin HERNANDEZ
2 Quiarol ARZU
3 David MOLINA
4 Samuel CABALLERO
5 Erick NORALES
6 Oscar MORALES
7 Emil MARTINEZ
8 Rigoberto PADILLA
9 Carlos PAVON
10 Ramon NUNEZ
11 Luis RODAS
12 Jorge CLAROS
13 Hendry THOMAS
14 Jefferson BERNARDEZ
15 Luis LOPEZ
16 Marvin SANCHEZ
17 David ALVAREZ
18 Obed ENAMORADO
Jefferson Bernardez and Hendry Thomas are two of the best players in the team.
Tags Cameroon • Honduras • Italy • Korea republic • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
In Athens 2004, they went through to the next round for the first time in their Olympic history, can they do this again?
I think it will be very hard if you see that they have to play Italy and Cameroon, who in my eyes will fight for the 1st and 2nd place of the group.
The squad:
1 JUNG Sung Ryong
2 SHIN Kwang Hoon
3 KIM Dong Jin
4 KANG Min Soo
5 KIM Chang Soo
6 KIM Jin Kyu
7 OH Jang Eun
8 KIM Jung Woo
9 SHIN Young Rok
10 PARK Chu Young
11 LEE Chung Yong
12 KI Sung Yueng
13 KIM Seung Yong
14 BAEK Ji Hoon
15 KIM Kun Hoan
16 CHO Young Cheol
17 LEE Keun Ho
18 SONG You Gual
Key players: Chu Young Park and Kim Jin Kyu.
Tags Cameroon • Honduras • Italy • Korea republic • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
As a former Gold medal winner (Sydney ’00) Cameroon again qualified for this year Olympic Games.
Although they’ll have to play very well this time to achieve the same result. All the pressure seemed to be on the defenders as their attackers did very well in the qualifying stage. But as long as you score more goals then your opponent, there’s no problem 
The squad:
1 Amour TIGNYEMB
2 Albert BANING
3 Antonio GHOMSI
4 Andre BIKEY
5 Alexandre SONG
6 Stephane MBIA
7 Marc MBOUA
8 Georges MANDJECK
9 Frank SONGOO
10 Christian BEKAMENGA
11 Gustave BEBBE
12 Paul BEBEY
13 Nicolas NKOULOU
14 Aurelien CHEDJOU
15 Serge NGAL
16 Joslain MAYEBI
17 Alain OLLE
18 Alexis ENAM
Arsenal’s Alexandre Song will be leading the midfield of the Lion Cubs. And if they score as well as in the qualifying stage, maybe a medal is possible?
Tags Cameroon • Honduras • Italy • Korea republic • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
After defeating Portugal on penalties in the qualifying stage for this Olympic tournament, Italy are named as the outsiders for the Gold medal. In one of the best competitions of the world, the youth players will learn quickly what they have to do to make it to the top.
The squad:
1 Emiliano VIVIANO
2 Marco MOTTA
3 Paolo DE CEGLIE
4 Antonio NOCERINO
5 Luca CIGARINI
6 Domenico CRISCITO
7 Riccardo MONTOLIVO
8 Claudio MARCHISIO
9 Tommaso ROCCHI
10 Sebastian GIOVINCO
11 Giuseppe ROSSI
12 Daniele DESSENA
13 Andrea CODA
14 Robert ACQUAFRESCA
15 Salvatore BOCCHETTI
16 Lorenzo DE SILVESTRI
17 Ignazio ABATE
18 Andrea CONSIGLI
Players to keep an eye on are Claudio Marchisio and Giuseppe Rossi. Rossi, who play’s for Villareal is a joy to watch and he scores from every angle. I feel he’ll be one of the contenders for the golden boot of the tournament.
Tags Cameroon • Honduras • Italy • Korea republic • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
As a Belgian myself, I’m very proud that they qualified for this year’s Olympics. If you know that there are only 4 teams from Europe allowed in the Olympic Soccer tournament, and if you know that the other 3 teams are the Netherlands, Italy and Serbia, you can understand that I’m very very proud.
This team is the best team Belgian had in a long long time. If they put their mind to it, they can come very far in the tournament. Everyone in Belgium is hoping on a medal and it could be possible.
Our squad:
1 Logan BAILLY
2 Sepp DE ROOVER
3 Vincent KOMPANY
4 Thomas VERMAELEN
5 Sebastien POCOGNOLI
6 Marouane FELLAINI
7 Tom DE MUL
8 Faris HAROUN
9 Kevin MIRALLAS
10 Jan VERTONGHEN
11 Maarten MARTENS
12 Yves MA-KALAMBAY
13 Laurent CIMAN
14 Landry MULEMO
15 Jeroen SIMAEYS
16 Anthony VANDEN BORRE
17 Stijn DE SMET
18 Moussa DEMBELE
Key players, Vincent Kompany, Belgium’s biggest talent on the soccer field. Maarten Martens, has the ability to ‘read’ the game and make the decisive passes. Moussa Dembele, a danger in front of the goal and very hard to defend. Marouane Fellaini, he keeps on running and working on the midfield, you’re never done with him.
Good luck Belgium!!!
Tags Belgium • Brasil • China • New Zealand • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
For the first time in the Olympic history, New Zealand has qualified for the Olympic soccer tournament. So can they make it through to the next round? I doubt it, it will be very hard for them in my opinion. True, they have a good qualification round, but is that enough to compete at the highest level?
The squad:
1 Jacob SPOONLEY
2 Aaron SCOTT
3 Ian HOGG
4 Cole PEVERLEY
5 Ryan NELSEN
6 Michael BOXALL
7 Simon ELLIOTT
8 Craig HENDERSON
9 Daniel ELLENSOHN
10 Chris KILLEN
11 Jeremy BROCKIE
12 Steven OLD
13 Shaun VAN ROOYEN
14 Cole TINKLER
15 Greg DRAPER
16 Sam JENKINS
17 Sam MESSAM
18 Liam LITTLE
Maybe Steven Old and Jeremy Brockie can help bringing their teammates to compete at a higher level, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Tags Belgium • Brasil • China • New Zealand • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
As the host country, China has much to prove and I hope for them they can handle this pressure.
It will be hard for them to qualify for the next round (in my eyes) as they have to play against Brazil and Belgium (my home country). If they can get a good result against New-Zealand, maybe it’s possible.
1 QIU Shengjiong
2 TAN Wangsong
3 FENG Xiaoting
4 YUAN Weiwei
5 LI Weifeng
6 ZHOU Haibin
7 HAO Junmin
8 ZHENG Zhi
9 GAO Lin
10 HAN Peng
11 CHEN Tao
12 CUI Peng
13 SHEN Longyuan
14 WAN Houliang
15 JIANG Ning
16 ZHAO Xuri
17 DONG Fangzhuo
18 LIU Zhenli
Key players in the China squad will be Manchester United’s Dong Fangzhou and Zheng Zi
Tags Belgium • Brasil • China • New Zealand • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
The nr1 favorite for this year’s gold medal is with no doubt Brazil, with star player Ronaldhino in the team, they can do marvelous things. Although Brazil has won almost everything you can win as a nation’s team, the only blank on their impressive sheet is an Olympic gold medal. Hopefully for them this time they can make it.
Squad:
1 DIEGO ALVES
2 RAFINHA
3 ALEX SILVA
4 THIAGO SILVA
5 HERNANES
6 MARCELO
7 ANDERSON
8 LUCAS
9 ALEXANDRE PATO
10 RONALDINHO
11 RAMIRES
12 RENAN
13 ILSINHO
14 BRENO
15 DIEGO
16 THIAGO NEVES
17 RAFAEL SOBIS
18 JO
Just picking a few key players in this squad isn’t the easiest, as they’re all very good players. Every nation’s team would wish for players with these kinds of skills.
Here’re 3 players, 18 year old Pato from Milan, who is supposed to be the next Ronaldo. Real Madrid’s Marcelo, an excellent player who looks very hard on his teammate Robinho 
And off course Milan’s new transfer Ronaldhino, no introduction needed.
Tags Belgium • Brasil • China • New Zealand • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
The USA are always strong contenders if it comes to Olympic Games, I don’t know why, but the Olympics have some kind of magic influence on American’s minds. Every time they play much better than expected. Will it be the same this year?
1 Chris SEITZ
2 Marvell WYNNE
3 Michael OROZCO
4 Michael BRADLEY
5 Dax McCARTY
6 Maurice EDU
7 Stuart HOLDEN
8 Danny SZETELA
9 Charlie DAVIES
10 Benny FEILHABER
11 Freddy ADU
12 Jozy ALTIDORE
13 Patrick IANNI
14 Robbie ROGERS
15 Michael PARKHURST
16 Sacha KLJESTAN
17 Brian McBRIDE
18 Brad GUZAN
For one of the best players in their team is Freddy Adu, this tournament could actually be a boost in his career. Last season he played for Benfica a few times, but they loaned him to AS Monaco. Hopefully he will gain enough confidence the next couple of matches to play a marvelous season in France.
Tags Holland • Japan • Nigeria • USA • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
Mexico’s 1968 Bronze medalist will have to play tough if they want to go through to the next round. With strong competitors like the Netherlands and Nigeria, they’ll be fighting for the 2nd place in the group stage. But playing close to home, they’ll probably be getting many supporters and take their play up to the next level?
1 Shusaku NISHIKAWA
2 Hajime HOSOGAI
3 Maya YOSHIDA
4 Hiroki MIZUMOTO
5 Yuto NAGATOMO
6 Masato MORISHIGE
7 Atsuto UCHIDA
8 Keisuke HONDA
9 Yohei TOYODA
10 Yohei KAJIYAMA
11 Shinji OKAZAKI
12 Hiroyuki TANIGUCHI
13 Michihiro YASUDA
14 Shinji KAGAWA
15 Takayuki MORIMOTO
16 Takuya HONDA
17 Tadanari LEE
18 Kaito YAMAMOTO
I’m curious to see how far they’ll get this Olympic games.
Tags Holland • Japan • Nigeria • USA • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
Back in Atlanta 1996, Nigeria was the first African team that won the Olympic gold medal.
This year they’ll try to fight for a medal, but they’ll will have to play very well to achieve this.
The Nigerian squad:
1 Ambruse VANZEKIN
2 Chibuzor OKONKWO
3 Taye TAIWO
4 Onyekachi APAM
5 Dele ADELEYE
6 Monday JAMES
7 Chinedu OGBUKE
8 Sani KAITA
9 Victor OBINNA
10 Promise ISAAC
11 Solomon OKORONKWO
12 Ebenezer AJILORE
13 Olubayo ADEFEMI
14 Peter ODEMWINGIE
15 Efe AMBROSE
16 Victor ANICHEBE
17 Emmanuel EKPO
18 Ikechukwu EZENWA
With a few talented youngsters like Promise Isaac and Taye Taiwo, they could have a shot on a medal.
Tags Holland • Japan • Nigeria • USA • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
The Netherlands will always be one of the favorites for the title, no matter which soccer competition they’re playing. But unfortunately most of the times they fail at the finish line.
Will this Olympic tournament be something to remember for them? We’ll find out in a few weeks.
They’re squad:
1 Piet VELTHUIZEN
2 Gianni ZUIVERLOON
3 Dirk MARCELLIS
4 Kew JALIENS
5 Erik PIETERS
6 Kees LUIJCKX
7 Jonathan DE GUZMAN
8 Urby EMANUELSON
9 Roy MAKAAY
10 Gerald SIBON
11 Ryan BABEL
12 Hedwiges MADURO
13 Calvin JONG-A-PIN
14 Evander SNO
15 Royston DRENTHE
16 Roy BEERENS
17 Otman BAKKAL
18 Kenneth VERMEER
Players that can make a difference in this team will be the always dangerous Roy Makaay, Ryan Babel and of course Real Madrid’s Royston Drenthe.
With Nigeria, Japan and the USA in the same group, they shouldn’t have any problems qualifying for the next round.
Tags Holland • Japan • Nigeria • USA • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
This is Serbia’s first appearance on the Olympics as an independent state. In 1984 they clinched the bronze medal when they still were part of the Yugoslavian team.
1 Vladimir STOJKOVIC
2 Marko JOVANOVIC
3 Aleksandar KOLAROV
4 Gojko KACAR
5 Slobodan RAJKOVIC
6 Predrag PAVLOVIC
7 Milan SMILJANIC
8 Nikola GULAN
9 Djordje RAKIC
10 Stefan BABOVIC
11 Dusko TOSIC
12 Dusan TADIC
13 Ljubomir FEJSA
14 Filip DJORDJEVIC
15 Aleksandar ZIVKOVIC
16 Nenad TOMOVIC
17 Zoran TOSIC
18 Sasa STAMENKOVIC
Key players to keep a close eye on are: Aleksandar Kolarov from Lazio, FC Nantes’ Stefan Babovic and Filip Djordjevic.
Serbia will be close to qualify for the next round, but it all depends what the result will be against Ivory Coast. The 2nd place will be a decided between Serbia and Ivory Coast
Tags Côte d'Ivoire • Argentina • Australia • Serbia • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
With their qualification to this year’s Olympics, Côte d’Ivoire made history, because this actually is the first time they will actually participate at the Olympic Soccer Tournament.
But if you see what good players Côte d’Ivoire delivered the last year, it’s no surprise that this team can actually mean something in China.
1 Vincent ANGBAN
2 Serge WAWA
3 Ousmane Viera DIARRASSOUBA
4 Souleymane BAMBA
5 Brou ANGOUA
6 Herve KAMBOU
7 Kafoumba COULIBALY
8 Salomon KALOU
9 Franck DJA DJEDJE
10 Emmanuel KONE
11 Anthony MOURA
12 Mamadou BAGAYOKO
13 Abraham GUIE-GUIE
14 GERVINHO
15 Ladji TAMLA
16 Christian OKOUA
17 Antoine N GOSSAN
18 Sekou CISSE
Players to watch for are Chelsea’s Salomon Kanou and Nice’s midfielder Kafoumba Coulibally.
Gervinho, or Gervais Yao Kouassi from Le Mans could also be a key player in the team.
Tags Côte d'Ivoire • Argentina • Australia • Serbia • Olympic Soccer tournament • Permalink
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