The list of the Argentine national team led by Javier Mascherano for the dispute of the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 is headed by the forward Julian Alvarez, the central Nicolas Otamendi and the goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
After weeks full of speculation about who would fill the three spots for players over 23 years old, in which names such as Lionel Messi or Angel di Maria Maria, finally Mascherano has opted for Otamendi (36 years old) and Rulli (32), members of the world champion team in Qatar 2022 together with Julian Alvarez and Thiago Almada, who will also go to the Games.
Emi Martinez is left out
So much Julian Alvarez, Manchester City striker, like Otamendi, Benfica defenders seemed to have secured their presence at the Olympics, although it was the goalkeeping position that presented the most questions.
Despite several rumours placing the holder of the ‘Scaloneta’, the English Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinezamong those chosen, the Mar del Plata native reported a few days ago that his club did not allow him to compete in the Olympics after doing so in the Copa América, a refusal that tipped the balance in favor of Rulli, goalkeeper of Ajax Amsterdam.
Almada, another world champion
In addition, the list published by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) highlights another hero of the Qatari conquest: the attacking midfielder Thiago Almada, who recently joined Brazilian club Botafogo from Atlanta United of the American MLS.
Among the main new arrivals is the Atlético de Madrid striker Giuliano Simeoneson of the former player and current coach of the red-and-white team, who received his first call-up last month after a season with a fractured tibia and fibula, leaving him off the pitch for five months.
A double, in his second match with the Albiceleste U-23 in June, against Paraguay, in a friendly, was enough to convince the ‘Jefecito’ of his performance, which could extend the deep bond that exists between the family of Diego Pablo ‘Cholo’ Simeone with the national team.
Boca Majority
On the other hand, Boca Juniors is the Argentine team that contributes the most names to the list with four players: The goalkeeper Leandro Brey and the midfielders Ezequiel Fernandez, Cristian Medina and Kevin ZenonThis ensures that the ‘Xeneize’ will have a lot of prominence in the engine room of the Argentine U-23 team.
The men’s Olympic football tournament will take place from July 24 to August 9. Argentina is in Group B along with Morocco, Iraq and Ukraine.
Mascherano’s list of 18 players
Goalkeepers: Leandro Brey (Boca Juniors) and Gerónimo Rulli (Ajax of the Netherlands)
Defenses: Marco Di Cesar (Racing Club), Julio Soler (Lanus), Joaquin Garcia (Velez Sarsfield), Gonzalo Lujan (San Lorenzo), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, Portugal), Bruno Amione (Santos Languna, Mexico)
Midfielders: Ezequiel Fernandez (Boca Juniors), Santiago Hezze (Olympiacos, Greece), Cristian Medina (Boca Juniors) and Kevin Zenon (Boca Juniors)
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Forwards: Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Luciano Gondou (Argentinos Juniors), Thiago Almada (Botafogo, Brazil), Claudio Echeverri (River Plate), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City, England) and Lucas Beltran (Fiorentina, Italy).
