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Coolio
24-07-2004, 23:02
This stuff with Alex Ferguson getting a strop on at ROnaldo playing for Portugal in the Olympics got me thinking, why do we not have a team in the Olympics?

Is it coz we would have to have a GB team and it's just not worth the bother?

I also heard something about how the team can only be semi pro and should mainly be under 21s
john316
24-07-2004, 23:08
I heard it was because the FA was scared FIFA would turn round and say that if you can turn a GB team out for the Olympics, then it can turn out for the Euro and World champs as well.

It would be good though to see a GB team though!
t@xman
24-07-2004, 23:24
Maybe it's more to do with the FA realising what a worthless competition it is, and that all these "extra" tournaments do nothing but devalue the prestige of those that already exist and exhaust all the leagues star players?
Pisces Iscariot
24-07-2004, 23:40
I also heard something about how the team can only be semi pro and should mainly be under 21s
The squads contain 3 'over-age' players and the rest are u23's. It doesn't matter if they're pro or amateur.
madstu
25-07-2004, 10:09
how long has football been at the olympics? there are a load of rubbish sports at the olympics such as dancing.

if we have football than why not rugby for example. or just get rid of it completly. Its pointless having this half-way house of U23 and 3 overage players. it should be dropped or anyone should be allowed to play.

The other question is, is there any qualfying system? What country's get to play in the olympics? how many teams will be there?
Midge
25-07-2004, 10:18
I heard it was because the FA was scared FIFA would turn round and say that if you can turn a GB team out for the Olympics, then it can turn out for the Euro and World champs as well.

It would be good though to see a GB team though!

That's how I remember it. I'm fairly sure the FA have actually been told that if a GB team is entered in the Olympics then that's what they must do for future tournements as well.
Kronik
25-07-2004, 11:51
The other question is, is there any qualfying system? What country's get to play in the olympics? how many teams will be there?

Thats what I was woundering. And what teams have qualified?
Scoob
25-07-2004, 18:02
There is definately a qualifying system for it as i remember seeing somewhere about some team failing to qualify for the olympics, as to who is actually in it i don't know.
Johnny Shaker
25-07-2004, 18:17
How the teams qualified:

http://www.fifa.com/en/comp/olympicsmen.html?static=2&comp=OLY&year=2004