Thierry Henry’s France emerged as favorites to advance to the 2024 Olympics after the men’s group draws on Wednesday, with the hosts awaiting the availability of Kylian Mbappe. “Nothing is easy,” Henry said after the draw, but his side are already among the favorites to compete for gold at home, having avoided the potential pitfalls of not drawing Morocco and Egypt. The Roosters are drawn in Group A of the 16-team tournament along with New Zealand, the United States and the winners of the AFC-CAF play-offs as they seek to win a second Olympic medal following their success in 1984 gold medal.
“It’s never easy to win home games, I think Brazil and Spain did it (in 2016 and 1992 respectively) but it doesn’t happen very often,” Henry said.
“We’re going to work hard to get there, but it’s going to be a long journey.”
It is understood that Paris Saint-Germain superstar Mbappe is also very eager to represent the national team in the Olympics, but he may not have much time to rest after the 2024 European Cup.
World football’s governing body FIFA has not forced clubs to release players for the Olympics, which could complicate Mbappe’s situation.
The World Cup winner’s chances of featuring for the hosts as one of three players over the age of 23 appear to have all but disappeared, but 2018 world champion Antoine Griezmann could still feature despite a recent ankle injury.
However, with under-23 talents such as Eduardo Camavinga, Bradley Bakela and Warren Zaire-Emery also potentially at his disposal, Henry is likely to finish first in the group regardless. one.
Two-time Olympic Messi?
Such a result is likely to be the key to avoiding Argentina, which is drawn in Group B with Morocco, Ukraine and the third Asian qualifier.
Last month, Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 to knock it out of the Paris Olympics, denying Brazil the chance to win a third consecutive Olympic men’s football title.
Coach Javier Mascherano now has an ace up his sleeve that he can use as Argentina seek a third gold medal for themselves, following their triumphs in 2004 and 2008.
Global superstar Lionel Messi, 36, who won the gold medal in 2008, could be in contention for Argentina’s final international appearance after winning the 2022 World Cup.
“Everyone knows my relationship with Leo… the door is open for him to join us… it depends on him,” Mascherano, Messi’s long-time former international teammate, said in February.
Tokyo silver medalist Spain will face Egypt and the Dominican Republic in Group C, the second AFC qualifier.
Group D includes Paraguay, Israel, Mali and the first qualifiers of the AFC Champions League.
The men’s football team participating in the 2024 Olympics is mainly limited to players born after January 1, 2001, but each team can choose three players over the age of 23 to join the team.
The men’s competition will begin on July 24, two days before the Olympic opening ceremony, and will end with the final in Paris on August 9.
The top two teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals.
Full 2024 Olympic Games men’s football draw:
Group A:France, New Zealand, United States, ICP AFC-CAF
Group B: Argentina, Morocco, AFC 3, Ukraine
Group C: AFC 2, Spain, Egypt, Dominican Republic
Group D: AFC 1, Paraguay, Mali, Israel
The AFC U-23 Asian Cup will be held in Qatar from April 15 to May 3. The two finalists and the third-place team will automatically qualify for the Olympics.
The AFC and African Football Confederation play-offs will determine the final participants of the Olympics. The match will be between African team Guinea and the fourth-placed team in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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