Aptly enough, football became a full Olympic medal sport at the London Games of 1908, having been a mere demonstration for the first modern Olympiad, in Athens in 1896. Football itself, of course, had far longer lineage, with even the ancient Greeks known to have played a variation of the game.
The breakthrough for its Olympic profile came at Barcelona ’92, with professional players permitted to take part in the Games for the first time. The rules were adapted to define the men’s competition as an under-23 event, although three players over this age could be included in every team. The women’s event has no age limit and has formed part of the Games since Atlanta ’96.
London 2012 could witness a further seminal moment in Olympic football’s development: the banner of Team GB. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown caused consternation when he floated this suggestion in 2008, as the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish associations protested that their status would be reduced within Fifa, governing body of the global game. England, though, will not be prevented from fielding players for the British team.
Rules:
Football is, in the words of no less than an authority than Sir Bobby Charlton, a “simple game”. Two teams of 11 players on an outdoor pitch seek to put the ball in the others’ net, and the team with the most goals after 90 minutes wins. Straightforward enough? Well, there is the complication of the offside rule, which for anyone who ever followed the game on Sky, Richard Keys and Andy Gray would be happy to explain.
Events / disciplines:
Men’s football
Women’s football
Gold medals available: 2
Schedule:
July 25 - Aug 11
Olympic football schedule
Plan your Games with our:
Interactive London 2012 Olympic Schedule
Ticket prices:
Range from £20 - £185
Special prices available in category B+C+D
Venue:
Wembley Stadium
Old Trafford
Millennium Stadium
St James' Park
Hampden Park
City of Coventry Stadium
How many medals targeted by Team GB?
A goal of medals in both men’s and women’s football might be highly ambitious, but this is an unpredictable sport. Perhaps the most unpredictable sport.
Where are the chances?
The women must have a strong chance, mainly because they are regular team-mates under the coaching of Hope Powell – a fixture in the job since as far back as 1998. England's performance in last year’s European Championships – where they lost 6-2 to Germany in the final – was their best in any tournament to date.
As for the men, well, who would bet on a team with a strong English presence after the way they “polluted the World Cup”, in the words of one senior BBC commentator? At least we can expect a wholesale change of personnel. Fifa rules state that the team has to consist mainly of players under the age of 23, with the exception of three senior campaigners. According to one excitable report, David Beckham – who will be 37 at the time of the Olympics – is making a bid for inclusion.
Key issue internationally?
Hugh Robertson, minister for sport and the Olympics, has insisted that the framework for a Great Britain team must be laid down by the end of the year. But the issue continues to cause disquiet among the home nations’ administrators.
The smaller members, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, know that they are likely to be overshadowed by the English presence, and are unlikely to supply any players. Their biggest concern is that a British Olympic team might become a Trojan horse for overall unification, and that they might lose their independent status, or – even more worryingly – their vote at Fifa's top table.
Biggest challenge domestically?
It will be interesting to see how far the Premier League clubs will go when it comes to making their best young players available. In the build-up to the Olympics, the team will need all the training time it can get. The appointment of a manager will be another talking point. Roy Hodgson, who previously coached the UAE’s Olympic team, has been linked with the job. But then Hodgson seems to get linked with just about every job as a matter of course.
Brits to watch?
Jack Rodwell: Outstanding as a defensive midfielder for Everton, the 19 year-old is also increasingly deployed in attacking positions. In 2008 he became his club’s youngest ever player in a European match. A year later, he earned his first start at Under-21 level for England, drawing wide praise for his performance in the draw against Germany at the European Championships. He could yet marshal the midfield for Team GB.
Nathan Delfouneso: At 19, the Aston Villa starlet could be the most promising English striker in his age group. A product of Villa’s academy, he was given his first senior appearance in 2008 but has since remained on the periphery as Martin O’Neill and, more recently, Gerard Houllier both struggled to incorporate him into the first team. But his goal on debut for England’s Under-21s last March suggested he was capable of making an impact on the international stage.
Anita Asante: Once a hardy perennial of the Arsenal women’s team, the 25 year-old has since chased the lucre offered by the US professional league by joining newly-formed Washington Freedom. Having competed internationally for six years, the Londoner is making a place in the GB team for 2012 a priority.
Biggest international rivals?
Lionel Messi (Argentina): The Argentinians have become renowned for their unmatched development system for young players, winning the last two Olympic golds, but Leo Messi remains a breed apart. The pivot of an exhilarating three-man attack at Barcelona, providing magical trickery with every touch, he is indisputably the most gifted player in the world, with only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid in close competition. While without a goal for his country at the 2010 World Cup, Messi has shone on the Olympic stage already, scoring two goals at Beijing ’08 and setting up the winner in the final against Nigeria.
Javier Hernandez (Mexico): The ‘little pea’, or ‘Chicharito’, acquired by Manchester United from Guadalajara from Mexico in the summer of 2010, has proved a revelation up front at Old Trafford with his goals and inventive support play. Likely to spearhead a fearsome Mexico side, which should also include Arsenal’s Carlos Vela.
Alexandre Pato (Brazil): AC Milan’s beloved ‘duck’ (the translation of Pato from the Portuguese) remains a prodigious talent, despite being overlooked by Dunga, the former Brazil coach, for a place at the last World Cup in South Africa. Has a lethal eye for goal, scoring on his international debut in March 2008, and proved a headline name at the Beijing Games.
Jargon:
Foul – Covers any illegal interference with a player on the opposing team and could involve kicking, shoving, pushing, tripping or dangerous tackling.
Fact:
Hungary has won three football gold medals, more than any other country.
Legends of the sport:
Pele (Brazil), Eusebio (Portugal), Mia Hamm (US)
What to say.....
“I reckon Britain can end 100 years of hurt here.”
What not to say.......
“The Nigerian team look awfully old for a team of mostly under-23s.”
If it were a TV programme, it would be...
Newsround. All right for the kids, but if you are a grown up you really ought to be watching the real thing instead.
Official sites:
www.london2012.com/games/olympic-sports/football.php
www.fifa.com/
www.thefa.com/
www.scottishfa.co.uk/
www.faw.org.uk/
www.faw.org.uk/
3:25 AM
Shweta Pandey
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