After the European and South American footballing carnival, all eyes will lead to Tokyo where the 16-teams’ will challenge each other to earn the prestigious Olympics gold medal for their country. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics official football squads were announced and the choices of the managers are hinting at a real treat for spectators.
The Olympic Games #Tokyo2020 will be held from 23 July until 8 August 2021.
More information here: https://t.co/ST25uXKglE pic.twitter.com/sQo1TIcH5O
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) March 30, 2020
With managers shuffling their packs, it’ll be important to see who all they pick before they hop on to the flight to Tokyo. With the 2020 Olympics revamping its number of players policy, the football squads can consist of 22 lions instead of just 18 this summer. Although all the players have to be born on or after January 1, 1997, with the exception of three overage players.
GROUP-A
JAPAN
Goalkeepers: Keisuke Osaka, Kosei Tani, Zion Suzuki.
Defenders: Hiroki Sakai*, Yuta Nakayama, Ko Itakura, Maya Yoshida*, Reo Hatate, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Daiki Hashioka, Ayumu Seko, Koki Machida.
Midfielders: Wataru Endo*, Takefusa Kubo, Koji Miyoshi, Ritsu Doan, Kaoru Mitoma, Yuki Soma, and Ao Tanaka.
Forwards: Daizen Maeda, Ayase Ueda, Daichi Hayashi.
*Over-aged player
SOUTH AFRICA
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams* , Mondli Mpoto , Sifiso Mlungwana
Defenders: Katlego Mohamme, Luke Fleurs, Sibusiso Mabiliso, Abbubaker Mobara*, Thabiso Monyane, Tercios Malepe
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena, Thabo Cele, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Sipho Mbule, Goodman Mosele, Kamohelo Mahlatsi
Strikers: Fagrie Lakay, Luther Singh, Evidence Makgopa, Lyle Foster, Kobamelo Kodisang
*Over-aged player
MEXICO
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa*, Sebastian Jurado, Luis Malagon.
Defenders: Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez, Jesus Alberto Angulo, Jorge Sanchez, Vladimir Lorona, Adrian Mora, Luis Romo*.
Midfielders: Diego Lainez, Sebastian Cordova, Carlos Rodriguez, Roberto Alvarado, Uriel Antuna, Joaquin Esquivel, Fernando Beltran, Erick Aguirre, Jesus Ricardo Angulo.
Forwards: Henry Martin*, Alexis Vega, Eduardo Aguirre.
*Over-aged player
FRANCE
Goalkeepers: Paul Bernardoni, Stefan Bajic, Dimitry Bertaud.
Defenders: Melvin Bard, Anthony Caci, Ismael Doukoure, Pierre Kalulu, Clement Michelin, Timothee Pembele, Modibo Sagnan.
Midfielders: Alexis Beka Beka, Jeremy Gelin, Enzo Le Fee, Teji Savanier*, Florian Thauvin*, Lucas Tousart.
Forwards: Andre-Pierre Gignac*, Randal Kolo Muani, Arnaud Nordin, Isaac Lihadji, Nathaniel Mbuku.
*Over-aged player
GROUP-B
NEW ZEALAND
Goalkeepers: Michael Woud, Jamie Searle, Alex Paulsen.
Defenders: Michael Boxall*, Liberato Cacace, Callan Elliot, Dane Ingram, Nando Pijnaker, Winston Reid*, George Stanger.
Midfielders: Joe Bell, Clayton Lewis, Marko Stamenic, Gianni Stensness, Ben Old, Sam Sutton.
Forwards: Joey Champness, Elijah Just, Callum McCowatt, Ben Waine, Chris Wood*, Matt Garbett.
*Over-aged player
SOUTH KOREA
Goalkeepers: Song Bum-keun, Ahn Joon-soo, An Chan-gi.
Defenders: Lee You-hyeon, Jeong Tae-wook, Kim Jae-woo, Kim Jin-ya, Seol Young-woo, Kim Min-jae*, Kang Yoon-sung, Lee Sang-min.
Who is Kim Min-Jae? All is in the article. Find out about the highly rated South Korean defender. https://t.co/Qtz4TSTVqv
— The Spurs Web ⚪️ (@thespursweb) June 29, 2020
Midfielders: Jeong Seung-won, Kim Dong-hyun, Lee Dong-gyeong, Won Du-jae, Lee Kang-in, Kim Jin-kyu.
Forwards: Lee Dong-jun, Um Won-sang, Song Min-kyu, Kwon Chang-hoon*, Hwang Ui-jo*.
*Over-aged player
ROMANIA
Goalkeepers: Mihai Aioani, Mihai Popa, Stefan Tarnovanu.
Defenders: Radu Boboc, Andrei Chindris, Virgil Ghita, Ricardo Grigore, Alex Pascanu, Andrei Ratiu, Florin Stefan*.
Romanian 🇷🇴 squad for #Tokyo2021
Many absences due to the Olympics not be an official FIFA date & therefore many clubs not allowing players to go
Sadly this is a very very weakened team, but let’s hope for the best anyway.. 🙏🏼🇷🇴#ReadingFC #Pisa #Villarreal #Ponferradina #DFCO pic.twitter.com/o8Vlx0lJgn
— Romanian Football (@RoFtbl) June 29, 2021
Midfielders: Tudor Baluta, Andrei Ciobanu, Alex Dobre, Marco Dulca, Ion Gheorghe, Valentin Gheorghe, Marius Marin, Dragos Nedelcu.
Forwards: George Ganea, Andrei Sintean.
*Over-aged player
HONDURAS
Goalkeepers: Alex Guity , Michael Perello , Bryan Ramos
Defenders: Denil Maldonado, Wesly Decas, Carlos Melendez, Cristopher Melendez, Jonathan Nunez, Jose Garcia, Elvin Oliva
Midfielders: Rigoberto Rivas, Brayan Moya* , Jorge Alvarez, Carlos Pineda, Jose Pinto, Edwin Rodriguez , Alejandro Reyes
Forwards: Douglas Martinez, Juan Carlos Obregon , Jorge Benguche* , Samuel Elvir, Luis Palma
*Over-aged player
GROUP-C
EGYPT
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy*, Mohamed Sobhy, Mahmoud Gad.
Defenders: Ahmed Hegazi*, Mahmoud Hamdy, Mohamed Abdel Salam, Osama Galal, Ahmed Ramadan, Karim El-Eraky, Karim Fouad, Ahmed Abou El Fotouh.
الحمدلله علي الفوز و نهاية موسم جيد حققنا فيه جزء من اهداف الفريق و تكون بدايه جديده نبني عليها للسنوات القادمه لنادينا و جماهيره 🖤💛
و ان شاء الله نبدأ من نهائي البطوله العربيه 🙏🏾#الاتحاد 💛 pic.twitter.com/O28WHo2ekL— Ahmed hegazi (@Hegazi) May 31, 2021
Midfielders: Akram Tawfik, Amar Hamdy, Nasser Maher, Emam Ashour.
Forwards: Ramadan Sobhi, Ibrahim Adel, Abdel Rahman Magdy, Taher Mohamed, Salah Mohsen, Nasser Mansi, Ahmed Yasser.
*Over-aged player
SPAIN
Goalkeepers: Alex Dominguez, Alvaro Fernandes, Unai Simon.
Defenders: Eric Garcia, Juan Miranda, Oscar Mingueza, Oscar Gil, Pau Torres, Jesus Vallejo.
Midfielders: Pedri, Bryan Gil, Martin Zubimendi, Marc Cucurella, Jon Moncayola, Dani Olmo, Carlos Soler, Dani Ceballos*, Mikel Merino*, Marco Asensio*.
Forwards: Javi Puado, Rafa Mir, Mikel Oyarzabal.
*Over-aged player
ARGENTINA
Goalkeepers: Joaquin Blazquez, Lautaro Morales, Jeremias Ledesma*.
Defenders: Hernan de la Fuente, Marcelo Herrera, Nehuen Perez, Leonel Mosevich, Facundo Medina, Francisco Ortega, Claudio Bravo.
Midfielders: Fausto Vera, Santiago Colombatto, Tomas Belmonte, Martin Payero, Thiago Almada, Esequiel Barco.
Here’s Argentina’s Olympic squad that will compete against the Olyroos at #Tokyo2020
Sadly no Lionel Messi 😉@FOXSportsNews pic.twitter.com/amrUKickPP
— James Dodd (@JamesDoddFOX) July 2, 2021
Forwards: Carlos Valenzuela, Pedro de la Vega, Alexis Mac Allister, Agustin Urzi, Adolfo Gaich, Ezequiel Ponce.
*Over-aged player
AUSTRALIA
Goalkeepers: Tom Glover, Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Jordan Holmes.
Defenders: Nathaniel Atkinson, Thomas Deng, Joel King, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, Rulon Tongyik*.
Midfielders: Keanu Baccus, Denis Genreau, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Dylan Pierias, Caleb Watts, Cameron Devlin, Ramy Najjarine.
Forwards: Daniel Arzani, Nicholas D’Agostino, Mitchell Duke*, Reno Piscopo, Lachlan Wales.
Been an amazing month playing for my country then being reunited with my family! Always proud to wear the Green & Gold 💚💛 8 wins from 8 games in the World Cup Qualifiers 💪🏼🇦🇺 onto round 3! pic.twitter.com/Pzjv9dxg2Z
— Mitchell Duke (@mitchduke8) June 16, 2021
*Over-aged player
GROUP-D
BRAZIL
Goalkeepers: Brenno, Lucao, Santos*.
Defenders: Nino, Gabriel, Guilherme Arana, Gabriel Menino, Dani Alves*, Diego Carlos*, Abner Vinicius, Bruno Fuchs.
Midfielders: Matheus Henrique, Bruno Guimaraes, Douglas Luiz, Claudinho, Reinier, Douglas Augusto.
Forwards: Gabriel Martinelli, Paulinho, Richarlison, Matheus Cunha, Antony.
⚽️❤️ pic.twitter.com/P2m3RxLUsD
— Gabriel Martinelli (@gabimartinelli) June 6, 2021
*Over-aged player
GERMANY
Goalkeepers: Svend Brodersen, Florian Muller, Luca Plogmann.
Defenders: Benjamin Henrichs, Amos Pieper, David Raum, Jordan Torunarigha, Felix Uduokhai, Joshua Vagnoman.
Midfielders: Nadiem Amiri*, Maximilian Arnold*, Niklas Dorsch, Ismail Jakobs, Eduard Lowen, Arne Maier, Anton Stach.
¡Debut y triunfo! 🤗
Nadie #Amiri usó nuestros colores 🖤❤️ por primera vez en la #Bundesliga en la victoria de ayer 1-3 ante @f95. #F95B04 #SomosBayer04 pic.twitter.com/dnhHhZGoUi
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_es) August 25, 2019
Forwards: Max Kruse*, Marco Richter, Cedric Teuchert.
*Over-aged player
IVORY COAST
Goalkeepers: Ira Tape Eliezer , Nagoli Oupoh Maxime , Tie Nicolas .
Defenders: Kouao Koffi Franck, Ouattara Zie, Singo Wilfried , Eric Bailly, Dabila Kouadio Yves, Diallo Chester , Gnaka Silas.
Midfielders: Eboue Christ , Doumbia Idrissa , Franck Kessie , Amad Diallo, Max Gradel, Dao Youssouf.
https://www.instagram.com/p/COvsPl_hhmv/?hl=en
Forwards: Timite Cheick , Kouame Christian, Bayo Vakoun , Keita Mory, Keita Kader, Doumbia Aboubakar Junior
SAUDI ARABIA
Goalkeepers: Zaid Al-Bawardi, Mohammed Al Rubaie, Amin Bukhari.
Defenders: Saud Abdulhamid, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Khalifah Al-Dawsari, Khalid Al-Dubaysh, Yasser Al-Shahrani*, Hamad Al-Yami, Abdullah Hassoun, Abdulbasit Hindi.
✅ 2020 Tokyo Olympics
✅ 2020 AFC U23 Championship FinalIt doesn’t get better than this, well done to our Green Falcons 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/OyIOaDh6iO
— Saudi National Team (@SaudiNT_EN) January 22, 2020
Midfielders: Turki Al-Ammar, Salem Al-Dawsari*, Salman Al-Faraj*, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Ali Al-Hassan, Ayman Al-Khulaif, Sami Al-Najei, Nasser Al-Omran, Mukhtar Ali, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Ayman Yahya.
Forwards: Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Abdulrahman Al-Yami.
*Over-aged player
With all the roads leading to Tokyo, it’ll be fascinating to see who comes out on top in Tokyo. Teams are fully geared up for another month of football after the announcement of football squads for the 2020 Olympics while for the fans there’s no time to take their eyes off their television sets.