Olympic Football (Soccer)

All About Football (Soccer) at the Olympics

Both women and men participate in the football competition at the Olympic games.

For the men, interested nations can submit one team of 23 players, 18 must be younger than 23, up to four can be older and the last two players are goalkeepers (one goalie can be older than 23). The teams are split into groups, and the winners and runners up of each group go on to the quarter final round. Four teams will continue onto to semi final round, and then two teams competeing in the gold medal final.

The Women's competiton is the same, except there are no age restrictions.

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Is Natasha Kai the next Brandi Chastain?

By Tony Mamone on

This Brandi Chastain picture is iconic. I remember the moment it happened. I was sitting in a sports bar on Block Island in Massachusettes. My sister and I were vacationing and were waiting for a ferry. We got wrapped up in the game, it went into overtime, and we missed the ferry. But it was worth it. Brandi got criticized in the press for taking off her kit on national TV, but come on, it was pure joy and the thrill of victory (not some sexy-time invitation) that sparked the celebration.Now...Read Full Story

Abby Wambach Out For Olympic Games

By Tatiana Guertin on

The U.S. women's soccer team was dealt a devastating blow last night as their lead scorer, Abby Wambach , broke her left leg in an exhibition game against Brazil.After a violent collision with Brazilian defender Andreia Rosa during the first half of the match, Wambach was taken off the field by paramedics. She fractured both her Tibia and fibula, and will have surgery Thursday.The surgery will entail inserting a titanium rod into her leg. Wambach is expected to be out for at least 12 weeks...Read Full Story

US Olympic Soccer Team Chosen

By Tatiana Guertin on

The Beijing summer Olympics are only a few months away, and the women's U.S. soccer team has just solidified its roster. 18 players have been chosen to represent the U.S. on the soccer field, some of the choices may surprise you.Goalkeeper Hope Solo, who was kicked off the team nine months ago at the World Cup, will compete for America, which leaves Briana Scurry out of luck. Scurry took over for Solo after the World Cup semifinal loss to Brazil, but coach Pia Sundhage felt Solo was the more...Read Full Story

LONDON 1912 PRECEDENT FOR SCOTLAND OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TEAM.

By SCOTLAND NEWS. on | From scotlandnewsinformationblog.blogspot.com

LONDON 1912 PRECEDENT FOR SCOTLAND OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TEAM.LONDON 1912 PRECEDENT FOR SCOTLAND OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TEAM.HOME TEAMS SHOULD GO BACK TO THE FUTURE. The SNP today (Sunday) revealed research showing the London Olympics set a precedent for all four home nation football teams to take part in the Olympic Games. SNP Olympics spokesman Pete Wishart MP called for the precedent, set during preparations for the London 1908 games when football became an official Olympic sport to be revisited and...Read Full Story

FORMER SCOTLAND FOOTBALL MANAGER CRAIG BROWN 'BITTERLY OPPOSED' TO TEAM GB

By SCOTLAND NEWS. on | From scotlandnewsinformationblog.blogspot.com

FORMER SCOTLAND FOOTBALL MANAGER CRAIG BROWN 'BITTERLY OPPOSED' TO TEAM GB.OLYMPIC TEAM THREATENS SCOTLAND'S FOOTBALLING INDEPENDENCE.Commenting on the remarks by former Scotland Manager Craig Brown that he is 'bitterly opposed' to GB Olympic football team on the Politics Show today Pete Wishart, the SNP's sports spokesperson at Westminster, said:"These comments by Craig Brown show the depth of opposition to Labour's enthusiasm for an Olympic team that will threaten Scotland's footballing...Read Full Story

Overview

The Football (Soccer) competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics will be held from August 6 to August 24 in Beijing and other cities in the People's Republic of China.

Featured Athlete

Abby Wambach

Age: 28
Hometown: Rochester, New York

Abby Wambach is an American professional soccer player, and a regular fixture on the US Women's National Team since 2003. She was successful with soccer at an early age, being named NSCAA Player of the Year and Umbro Player of the Year when she was only a senior in high school.

She went on to play for the University of Florida Gators, where the forward became the university's all-time leading scorer. She went on to play for the professional female soccer team the Washington Freedom, and the US Women's National Team. At teh 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens Wambach scored the winning goal against Brazil, resulting in a gold medal for the team. Maybe she'll have the same luck this year as she competes at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics with the US Women's Soccer team.

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