World Soccer - UK (2021-10)

Golden goal...

Malcom scores

thewinnerin

extra-time

venDaniAlves,the
38-year-oldwarrior
andright-backwith
countlesstrophies to
hisname,kneeledin
celebration. Afteran
enthrallingcontest,Brazilretainedtheir
Olympiccrownwitha2-1 finalwin
against a valiantbutexhaustedSpain,
featuringintheirthirdextra-timeof
thetournament.BrazilcoachAndre
Jardinehailedthevictoryagainst
“averydifficultschool”,pointingout
thathisteamdemonstratedenough
“determinationandpride” to ultimately

Butthecountry’ssecondconsecutiveOlympicsvictoryfailsto

erasedoubtsaboutfootball’slong-termfutureattheGames

Japan

SAMINDRA KUNTI

prevail.Jardinefetedthevictorywith

beerand musicfromOasis.

Andso thegoldmedalremainedin

South America,eludingEuropeonce

again.Thecontinentthathascome

todominate theWorldCuphasnot

producedanOlympicwinnersince

1992 , when SpaindefeatedPoland

3-2in Barcelona.Thatsquadincluded

PepGuardiola,LuisEnriqueandKiko

inthe tournament’sfirst iterationas

anUnder- 23 competition.The 2008

Court of Arbitrationfor Sport ruling

thatclubswerenotobligedto release

playersfor theBeijingOlympicGames

Brazil retain gold medal

furthercorrodedthecompetition’s

quality, leadingtoanexistential

vacuum:whatdoesOlympicfootball

reallyrepresent?What doesitmean?

Whoisitfor?

Theidentitycrisiswasonfullshow

inTokyo,whereUnder-24players

wereeligiblebecauseoftheevent’s

year-longpostponement.Onceagain,

footballwasanafterthoughtanda

nuisanceintheOlympiccosmos,with

thespotlightfixedon thelikesofEliud

Kipchoge,TomDaley,KatieLedecky

andDaikiHashimoto. They conquered

heartsandgold,while football– a

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