Olympics 2021: Brazil Vs Ivory Coast

Olympics Tokyo 2021 Jul 24, 2021 0 825 Add to Reading List

Its the second round of Olympics Football Group D stage fight and Brazil is facing against Ivory Coast! At the first round, Brazil has crushed Germany with a stunning 4 - 2! Will they continue their victory and stay at the top of Group D? Or will Ivory Coast beat them in this round 2? Lets have a look on their lineups!

As ever, Brazil has assembled a deep squad full of exciting young talent to defend its Olympic men’s soccer gold medal. While superstar forward Neymar is not on tap for an Olympic return, his senior national team strike partner Richarlison plans to head to Japan following the 2021 Copa America, where the Everton striker has added to his national team goal tally. Joining Richarlison from the Copa America squad is Aston Villa defensive midfielder Douglas Luiz, who can provide box-to-box energy and composure on the ball.

Brazil has won a medal of some sort at each of the past three Olympic tournaments. It will likely take a special performance to slow down Andre Jardine’s squad in Japan.

YOUNG PLAYER TO WATCH – Gabriel Martinelli

Plenty of Brazil’s roster fits the mold of a promising young player, but 20-year-old winger Gabriel Martinelli may be the most exciting talent of the bunch. In two seasons with English Premier League club Arsenal he’s shown a knack for scoring great goals in timely moments. In total, he’s struck 12 times for the Gunners in 48 games, including three times in the UEFA Europa League. Martinelli announced himself to the world in 2020 with an equalizing goal in a Premier League match against Chelsea from a 67-yard sprint.

BRAZIL OLYMPIC SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Brenno (Gremio), Lucao (Vasco de Gama), Santos (Athletico Paranaense)

Defenders: Nino (Fluminense), Ricardo Graca (Vasco de Gama), Guilherme Arana (Atletico Mineiro), Dani Alves (Sao Paulo), Diego Carlos (Sevilla), Abner Vinicius (Athletico Paranaense), Bruno Fuchs (CSKA Moscow)

Midfielders: Matheus Henrique (Gremio), Bruno Guimaraes (Lyon), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Claudinho (Red Bull Bragantino), Reinier (Borussia Dortmund), Douglas Augusto (PAOK), Gabriel Menino (Palmeiras)

Forwards: Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Paulinho (Bayer Leverkusen), Richarlison (Everton), Matheus Cunha (Hertha Berlin), Antony (Ajax)

Ivory Coast

The Ivorians are a dark horse to spoil things for either Brazil or Germany in Group D. The Elephants have secured the services of several of the nation’s top stars, including Milan midfielder Franck Kessie. The in-demand 24-year-old has already made 48 appearances for the senior national team, debuting in 2014 at age 17.

Cote d’Ivoire’s Olympic roster is loaded with talent from Europe’s top leagues. Only two players in manager Soualiho Haidara’s squad play domestically in the Ivorian Ligue 1.

YOUNG PLAYER TO WATCH – Amad Diallo

Manchester United’s exciting young winger will have just turned 19 when Cote d’Ivoire kicks off in Japan. Raised in Italy from a young age, Diallo progressed through Atalanta’s youth system before transferring to the English Premier League giants in January. Also, this year, Diallo made his debut for the Ivorian senior national team, scoring in a friendly against Burkina Faso. He is a technically gifted, dynamic attacker who can dribble and shoot comfortably with both feet.

Goalkeepers: Eliezer Ira Tape (San Pedro), Maxime Nagoli Oupoh (Sol FC), Nicolas Tie (Vitoria Guimaraes)

Defenders: Kouao Koffi (Vizela), Zie Ouattara (Vitoria Guimaraes), Wilfried Singo (Torino), Eric Bailly (Manchester United), Kouadio-Yves Dalila (Mouscron), Ismael Diallo (Ajaccio), Silas Gnaka (Eupen)

Midfielders: Eboue Kouassi (Genk), Idrissa Doumbia (Huesca), Franck Kessie (Milan), Max Gradel (Sivasspor), Youssouf Dao (Sparta Praha)

Forwards: Chieck Timite (Amiens), Christiane Kouame (Fiorentina), Vakoun Issouf Bayo (Toulouse), Mory Keita (Ursl Vise), Kader Keita (Westerlo), Aboubacar Doumbia (Maccabi Netanya), Amad Diallo (Manchester United)