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As the rest of the world continues to take an interest in the men’s soccer competition at the Summer Olympics, one nation is making things difficult for everyone else.
Argentina won their second consecutive gold medal at the Summer Olympics. The South American giants won gold at the Beijing Games this summer, just four years after winning gold at the Athens Olympics.
Around the world, Argentina has long been feared for their accomplishments at the global level, notably their two World Cup championships. But now, Argentina is quickly gaining status for being one of the best soccer nations in the world.
Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 in the final and won their second soccer gold medal. Winning that was an important step toward gaining even more respect.
“The team deserved to win. They played well all through the tournament,” former Argentina superstar Diego Maradona said. “This is a special group of players.”
Maradona gained fame for leading Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, eight years after Argentina won its first World Cup. While Maradona’s days are long over, the top-notch talent Argentina had on its roster for the Olympics remains.
Lionel Messi, widely considered to be the best Argentine player since Maradona, scored twice for Argentina at the Olympics. A star player for Spanish club Barcelona, Messi risked quite a bit just to play at the Summer Games. Barcelona did not want to release Messi for the Olympics as he is an important player for them. Although Messi was called up to the team from the start, Barcelona refused to let him go and only changed their minds when FIFA, soccer’s governing body, demanded his release.
“I’m glad that I’m able to go to the Games,” he said once he was allowed to travel to China. “The Olympics are my dream.”
With Messi, Argentina had a star on their hands but he was far from the only talented player. Sergio “Kun” Aguero of Atlético Madrid, Fernando Gago of Real Madrid and Boca Juniors star Juan Román Riquelme were also on the squad and helped Argentina win gold.
The team also chose Argentines who are scattered across Europe. In all, Argentina had players who play professionally from eight different countries – Argentina, Spain, England, Belgium, Portugal, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
Even those players who are with some of the best clubs in the world saw the significance of the gold medal.
“I’m very happy. To be an Olympic champion is something unique in life and we should enjoy it,” said Gago, who played 31 games for Real Madrid in the 2007-08 season. “We have to enjoy and celebrate this beautiful moment.”
Olympic soccer teams have an age limit of 23 years, which means most players who participate in the Olympic soccer tournament only have one chance to do so. But Javier Mascherano has two gold medals now, having been with the team in Athens 2004 and again in Beijing 2008.
Mascherano, who was 20 for the 2004 Olympics, was one of three players over the age of 23 that each team selects for its roster. A key player for English club Liverpool, Mascherano said his second gold medal was very memorable.
“Later on, it will all sink in. I’m trying to enjoy it. It’s very special,” Mascherano said after the final. “I’ll never forget this day.”
Before 1984, Olympic soccer was not thought of highly since only amateur players were allowed to participate. Beginning with the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, professional players have been allowed to participate.
Since then, only Argentina has been able to win more than one gold medal and only Argentina has reached the final three times. With London 2012 still years away, it seems though that Argentina would be a safe bet to enter the tournament as favorites yet again.
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