Brazilian babes head Down Under

Brazilian babes head Down Under
STEVE CHADWICK

HAMBURG, AUGUST 24: Sydney will see the World's most popular sport reach its century in Olympic competition and a crop of new Brazilian soccer babes heading what could be a dazzling tournament.

Ronaldinho is the name that should soon be on everyone lips if they've got it right. While Brazil's senior side are in a trough, struggling for World Cup qualification, the juniors have shone.

The 20-year-old youngster did what Brazilians love best during the Olympic qualification hitting a hat-trick against arch-rivals Argentina in a 4-2 victory, among his nine goals in seven matches.

Backed by playmaker Alex, the other star of the side, the thrilling young squad must be seen as favourites as coach Wanderley Luxemburgo spurns the services of veterans including ageing Romario.

Olympic football allows three over-age players in squads otherwise under 23 years of age but Luxemburgo is sticking to an all-youth side. Rivaldo was considered, but Barcelona sent a clear `no' signal.

Understandably, clubs in football's European El Dorado are reluctant to give up their stars and while Brazil have no problem about eschewing the services of the World Footballer of the Year, other countries are fighting for the services of key players.

Defending champions Nigeria desperately want their Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu and are wrangling with the London club's coach Arsene Wenger, who is understandably unwilling to give him up for six weeks. Veteran stars Sunday Oliseh and Jay Jay Okocha have both declined.

The Olympics present youngsters with the perfect stage, and Kanu made the most of his Atlanta outing in 1996 with crucial goals that gave his country an historic first-ever title for Africa after dramatic wins against both Brazil and, in the final, Argentina.

The Argentines, incidentally, are also there again this time around and as usual will be the dangerous ones to watch even though, strangely enough, the only South American football gold medallists at the Olympics have been Uruguay, back in 1924 and 1928.

Who else to look for ? Spain current World Youth champions with a wonderful crop of young talent at their disposal, though not Raul Gonzalez, who is not being released by Real Madrid. Key team-mates from the erstwhile Spanish National youth team will be there, though including Xavi, Carles Puyol and Gabri, all being released by Barcelona.

Hosts Australia, too, are to be reckoned with, summoning their Leeds United strike force of Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, and coach Raul Blanco boldly states that the land of rugby and cricket `should pick up a medal'.

And never underestimate the sides from those eternal Asian rivals Japan and South Korea in this sort of competition. Sheer grit from both is always good for an upset.

Fittingly, football with 16 competing sides in the men's section making it the biggest team tournament at these Olympics looks like selling most tickets.

There are 1.6 million available at the two Sydney venues plus Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne which make it the only sport also being played outside the host city.

Four groups of four play round robins that will yield two group leaders going forward to straight knock-out stages beginning with quarter-finals, meaning medallists will have played six matches.

The women's tournament, too, is expected to be a thriller, given that Australian crowds might just decide to give the sort of support enjoyed four years ago in Atlanta, when the US girls attracted a record 76,000 crowd for women's football to the final they won over China.

The Americans are co-favourites with World champions Norway this time, too, in a tournament of two four-team groups playing to advance to semi-finals. (DPA).