The best captain England never had? - GQ Magazine

Article published for GQ Magazine (online), 20th July 2012. Full article can be found HERE

------------------------------------------------------------

Aged 31, most men can only dream of retirement. But this is the last thing Ledley King desired.  Since his debut for Tottenham in 1999, King has dared to put his fragile frame on the line in a constantly changing Spurs set-up. A niggling knee injury hasn't stopped him from being the club captain since 2005. For King, reaching the top echelon of the footballing ladder was never the goal; match fitness and staying injury free was. Although only training once a week and trading hours on the pitch for minutes in the swimming pool to prevent joint damage, King's inclusion into a starting eleven was often greeted by the White Hart Lane faithful with a roar load as if the team had scored.

Described by his doctor as "superhuman", King's retirement will see him adopt an ambassadorial role at White Hart Lane. Tottenham's young players would do well to study his awareness, his anticipation, his grit and dexterity. King's addition to Andre Villas-Boas' rejuvenated backroom set-up will bring an air of exuberance to the North London outfit.

Amassing 13 years as Spurs' defensive stalwart when fit, King's single Carling Cup trophy doesn't do the man justice. Had he been fit, the player Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy dubbed "the most gifted player in the history of the Club" would no doubt have boosted his meagre figure of 21 England caps substantially. King was the definition of a true captain: when he played, King came to Tottenham's rescue countless times. Had he played continuously alongside compatriot Michael Dawson, he may well have led Spurs to more than a solitary league cup victory in the last 12 years. We'll never know.

Fans should not be disheartened - one only hopes he follows the lead of Les Ferdinand and Tim Sherwood and instead of focusing on what might have been, looking to Tottenham's future.

New TV rights spell financial windfall for Premier League

Article published for Total Football Magazine (online). Full article can be found HERE

-------------------------------------------------

The Premier League announced last month they have secured a new broadcasting deal with BSkyB and BT, worth £3bn.
Whilst BT will broadcast 38 matches for three seasons from 2013 onwards, BSkyB remain in control of proceedings once more, with the rights to air 116 games per season.
So what does this mean to the clubs involved?
The new deal sees a rise of £1.25bn, an unprecedented 70% increase for the right to air football across the nation, and all 20 Premier League clubs will receive a handsome sum of money because of this.
Game-by-game, this means the Premier League will receive £6.5m for 90 minutes of play.
BT have secured the package previously owned by ESPN and will be showing the remnants of matches that BSkyB cannot show, having reached the limit of games allowed to be broadcast by one company.
The value of broadcasted football matches has increased ten-fold since the birth of the Premier League.
The first broadcasting deal to be struck was through 1992-1997, where BSkyB’s deal to show 60 televised matches throughout each season was struck in a deal worth £190m (£633,000 per game).
Since then, the amount of games shown and price per game has gone up dramatically. By 1997, BSkyB were paying £2.79m per match for broadcasting rights.
In 2001, the deal struck by BSkyB and the Premier League to show 110 games eclipsed £1bn for the first time. There is no sign this influx will stop any time soon.

Clubs will reap the financial benefits

Whilst a minimal share of the funds will go towards the league’s running costs, as well as professional bodies including the PFA, LMA and Football League, a hefty chunk of the money will still be shared equally among the 20 clubs.
Last year, a sum of £1.055bn was shared between the teams involved, with £87m of this shared between seven clubs as a parachute payment.
Under the new deal, clubs are set to receive at least £14m more than they already get from the Premier League.
In perspective, Manchester City earned £60.6m for being crowned champions last season. The bottom-placed Premier League club look set to receive this figure from TV rights alone, regardless of how they perform.
Next season’s champions will receive a hike of £29.2m, taking £89.9m for finishing top of the pile.
The team finishing bottom will still earn £53.3m, without taking into account the fact that overseas TV rights may fluctuate. If these rights rise an expected 50%, the bottom club would receive £62.7m, with the champions taking just shy of £100m.
This, alongside the parachute package clubs will receive upon relegation to help cope with the transition between Premier League and Championship demands, means they could be poised to bounce straight back into top-flight football the following season.
Currently, this figure stands at £16m for two seasons and £8m for another two seasons following relegation. It is also set to rise.

Ability to flex financial muscles

It’s almost impossible for a club to fail. That said, huge wage bills and record-breaking transfer fees are still burdening a minority of Premier League clubs. This deal goes a little way to helping lessen the load.
The clubs aiming for European football next season will be less affected, with the new broadcasting deal only showing a slight spike in income, but teams facing the drop would benefit greatly from this rise in broadcasting rights.
The promoted clubs, especially, could even buy a new substitute bench of talent with the new money they are set to receive.
Last year, clubs received an equal sum of £13.8m for TV rights, and another £18.8m for overseas TV rights, with the Premier League striking 81 further deals with broadcasters worldwide.
Including fees for facilities (with teams on TV more often earning more) and merit payments (fees paid depending on final league positions), income handed to Premier League clubs ranged from the chart-topping Manchester City at £60.6m to Wolves, sitting bottom of the pile, still earning £39m for TV rights.

Premier League top the league for equal payments

The Premier League prides itself on its fairly equal payments to clubs, with Manchester City earning £1.55 to every £1 Wolves receive.
To put this in perspective, Spanish monopolies Real Madrid and Barcelona earn 14 times more than most other clubs in La Liga. Italy’s ratio in Serie A is still 10 to 1, France’s Ligue 1 at 3.5 to 1 and the German Bundesliga at 2 to 1.
It’s fair to say that many Premier League clubs rely on the league’s earnings to stay competitive the following season, and the new TV deals struck with BSkyB and BT will help this. Of Blackburn’s £57.6m income last year for example, 73% came from Premier League income alone.
There are definitely many ways that clubs benefit from being in top-flight football - Nike give the Premier League £6m a year just to have their footballs on the pitch – but TV rights are where clubs benefit the most.
Whatever way you look at it, these figures are high enough to make your head spin. They fuel the Premier League as the world’s richest, most competitive, and most entertaining league in the world.

By James Hartnett - Follow me on Twitter @JamesHartnett_
Follow Total Football on Twitter: @TotalFootball12

10 examples why goalline technology is vital

Article published for Total Football Magazine (online). Full article can be found HERE

-------------------------------------------------


Calls for goalline technology have finally been answered and as of 2013 it will cement its place in Premier League history. It will also be present in the Club World Cup in December, as well as the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The technology has previously been available in other sports including rugby and tennis, but will finally come into football following recent successful testing.

Football fans aren’t strangers to goalline controversy and at some point or another, it has directly affected their supported team.

Total Football looks at the goals that should have been but weren’t given, as well as a few that, somehow, were awarded. Had goalline technology been introduced earlier, the outcome of these few select games could have changed dramatically. The final two in particular, with video, will have you wondering how decisions can be made so dreadfully wrong.

Frank Lampard vs Germany – World Cup Quarter-Final, 2010

Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal in England’s World Cup 2010 quarter-final against Germany is perhaps the most famous recent example of how goalline technology would have changed a game.
Trailing 2-1 and approaching half-time, England were soon in a moment of euphoria after Frank Lampard’s chip from outside of the box clipped the crossbar before bouncing in – and back out – of the goal. Germany’s Manuel Neuer quickly grabbed the ball and kicked it upfield as play continued. England were not rewarded with an equaliser, and Germany went on to win 4-1.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter subsequently insisted it was this goal that enforced the need for the techology in the game.

Andy Carroll vs Chelsea - FA Cup Final, 2012

With eight minutes to play and staring in the face of defeat, Liverpool needed a moment of magic after finding themselves 2-1 down against Chelsea. That moment came, as a Luis Suarez cross found an unmarked Andy Carroll at the far post. The troubled striker struck the ball between goalkeeper Petr Cech and the post, but Cech managed to palm the ball out of the goal and back into play. The goal was not awarded and Chelsea went on to lift the trophy.

Marko Devic vs England – Euro 2012 group stages, 2012

A sigh of relief for England fans, as Marko Devic’s shot was acrobatically cleared off the line by John Terry in a group game. Officials failed to notice the ball cross the line before the clearance, and England’s eventual 1-0 win contributed to their group-topping performance. After the match, Sepp Blatter declared that goal-line technology was “no longer an alternative but a necessity”. It should be noted, however, that the incident only arose after officials failed to spot an earlier offside decision.

Geoff Hurst vs West Germany – World Cup Final, 1966

Perhaps the most infamous incident in goalline history, Hurst’s shot raised questions if it crossed the line or not. The goal was given after consultation with the fourth official, giving England a 3-2 lead and helping to change the outcome of the game as England went on to lift the World Cup in 1966.

Clint Hill vs Bolton – Premier League, 2012

QPR eventually survived the Premier League drop, but were made to sweat. Their final day defeat to Manchester City meant they finished just above the drop-zone, with Bolton condemned to Championship football next season. Had the outcome of this earlier strike been different, however, it could have been the turning point. Clint Hill met a Joey Barton corner and headed the ball well into the Bolton goal before goalkeeper Adam Bogdan managed to parry it out and away. The goal was never given, and Bolton recovered to win the match 2-1.

Freddie Sears vs Bristol City – Championship, 2009

On loan from West Ham United, Freddie Sears made a dream start after moving to Crystal Palace, scoring the opening goal against Bristol City. However, the ball ricocheted off a stanchion behind the goal and play resumed as normal. To make matters worse, Bristol City then scored a last-minute winner and grabbed all three points. After the game, a furious Neil Warnock vented his anger, saying he “doesn’t know how [referees] keep their jobs”.

Sulley Muntari vs Juventus - Serie A, 2012

Drawing 1-1 in a match that could ultimately prove vital in the title race, Muntari’s headed effort to give AC Milan a 2-1 lead wasn’t given, despite being saved a foot inside the goal. The match finished a draw and Juventus went on to win the title a few months later. Had Milan won, they would have still finished second to Juventus in the league, but instead of being four points adrift they would have lost the title equal on points and just five goals behind champions Juve.

Pedro Mendes vs Manchester United – Premier League, 2005

With only minutes on the clock, Manchester United were pushing for a winner against a resilient Tottenham Hotspur. Goalkeeper Roy Carroll had even ventured into the Tottenham half to help pile on the pressure. Scrambling back to his goal after an attack broke down, Carroll was caught out by a looping shot by Pedro Mendes from the halfway line, and spilled the ball well into his goal after being left flat-footed by the effort. He clawed the ball out before play continued, and the match finished a draw.

Emerson vs Marilla – Brazil, 2011

It’s not often that a penalty rifles the net so hard it breaks it. Gremio’s Emerson does this, with an expertly-taken penalty smashed into the roof of the net. Emerson and his team-mates proceed to celebrate before officials disallow the goal, believing the ball to miss the target completely. Skip the video below to 2:05, and see for yourself the incredible goal that wasn’t.

Duisburg vs FSV Frankfurt – Bundesliga, 2010

Just as incredible is this Duisburg effort, as it crashes against the crossbar and bounces straight off the woodwork and away. Thankfully not a turning point in the match, as Duisburg find themselves 4-0 up prior to the incident, the fourth official is quick to award the goal much to the confusion of the crowd. Replays show the ball bounced off the post and landed a metre away from the goal.


By James Hartnett – Follow me on Twitter @JamesHartnett_
Follow Total Football on Twitter: @TotalFootball12

Team GB must be able to cope with pressure

Article written for Total Football Magazine (Online), July 2012. Full article can be found HERE

---------------------------------------------------

With international competition comes fresh hope and expectation for a national team to succeed.
Too many times has this spelled turmoil - England’s last World Cup win was in 1966, whilst penalty shoot-out heartbreak and a string of disappointing results have seen England crash out of many subsequent major tournaments in the last 16 or quarter-final stages.
Fortunes for Stuart Pearce’s Under-21 team are slightly different, however. The current Under-21 European Championships qualification campaign sees England occupy top spot, with five wins from six games placing them comfortably ahead of Norway and Belgium. Their last three home games have also seen them net 15 goals and concede none.
Manager Stuart Pearce will be taking control of Team GB throughout the Olympics, and he will be hoping his team of young talent can guide the nation to an Olympic medal.
Installed temporarily as caretaker manager of England in February until the appointment of Roy Hodgson, Pearce has been in charge of the England Under-21 national team since 2007 after a spell at Manchester City, and knows the England players better than anyone else in the country.
Pearce clearly feels this selection has the strongest chance of winning gold, but the pressure these youngsters will be under is something many will never have experienced before.
Performing on a global stage, in sell-out stadiums packed with enthusiastic home support, and millions of TV viewers worldwide , Pearce’s men must be at the peak of their game to compete for medals.

Under-21 performances bode for a successful Games

Pearce has experienced success with the U21 team previously, after strong Championship campaigns in 2007 and 2009 saw the team reach a semi-final and final respectively. In 2011, they failed to qualify from the group stages, narrowly missing out to Spain and a strong CzechRepublic side.
Despite this, two players still made the team of the tournament having only played three games.
Whilst Tottenham’s Kyle Walker misses out on Team GB selection following a toe injury, Manchester United’s Chris Smalling is part of Pearce’s Olympic set-up, and will be an experienced addition having played consistently for the Premier League runners-up this season.
The 2012 Olympics is the first time Team GB will compete in the football tournament since rule changes in 1992 meant that only three over-aged players could be selected for each national side.
With Ryan Giggs recently appointed captain, alongside the experience of Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards, the team should have a solid spine, whilst the creative flair of Scott Sinclair and Danny Rose in particular will offer a fresh, exciting approach down the wings. Both youngsters perform in the Premier League regularly and are no strangers to sell-out crowds.
Aaron Ramsey has already had his fair share of publicity after consistently impressive performances in Arsenal's midfield, and looks to be a Premier League star in the making. Again, he is no stranger to the spotlight and should be able to handle the pressure accordingly.

Handling the pressure is key

In fact, only two of England’s likely starting 11 have yet to experience regular Premier League game-time.
Birmingham's Jack Butland looks set to start between the posts for team GB, but he has spent most of the past two seasons on loan at Cheltenham, while Bolton striker Marvin Sordell has only made three senior appearances for the club.
On form though, both can be formidable players, and the experience around them should settle any big-stage nerves.
Team GB must be able to rise above the pressure that will inevitably fall upon them for London 2012, but with a strong presence of seasoned players -both over and under-23- this will hopefully not be a problem.
However, fans of the English national team know success is hard to come by on the international stage.
If Team GB’s players perform as well as they have in securing their positions in the squad, this summer should be one of excitement and glamour to be savoured in its entirety, no matter how far the team progresses.

By James Hartnett - Follow me on Twitter @JamesHartnett_
Follow Total Football on Twitter: @TotalFootball12

Diego Maradona's managerial career may now be at an end

Article posted for Total Football Magazine (online), July 2012. Full article can be found HERE

-------------------------------------------------

Diego Maradona: FIFA Player of the Century, World Cup icon, golden boot winner and proud scorer of the Goal of the Century. His playing career spanned 21 years, appearing for club and country 583 times and scoring 292 times.
Yet, ‘The Hand of God’ has never been far from controversy, especially off the field. After failing a drugs test in 1991, Maradona (pictured) was suspended from football for 15 months.  He also failed a drugs test at the 1994 World Cup and was sent home from the tournament in disgrace.
Following his retirement in 1997 at the age of 37, Maradona also turned to cocaine and suffered ill health before kicking the habit eight years later.
Having enjoyed an illustrious playing career, Maradona will always be heralded as one of, if not the best, footballer to ever grace the field.  The likes of Pele still do not come close to his talent and audacity on the ball.
Unfortunately, his playing skill hasn’t exactly been replicated as a coach and spats with the board, fans and the media have only served as a catalyst to his downfall.

Early days in Argentina

Maradona began his managerial career in 1994 with provincial club Deportivo Mandiyu, alongside then team-mate Carlos Fren.
His solitary season at the club saw them finish 20th in the Argentinean clausura (second half of the season), before he moved the following year to manage Racing Club, where he endured yet another disappointing season.
He then abandoned the notion of management for 13 years, focusing on recommencing a short playing career before finally retiring for good.
It wasn’t until 2008 when his venture into management continued, after pledging his interest in the Argentinean head coach role.
Following the resignation of former coach Alfio Basile, Maradona took charge of the national side to jubilant domestic support.
His status within his home country promised hope but the former global superstar could not deliver on expectations. His first three games in charge resulted in three wins, before a 6-1 thrashing against Bolivia tarnished the team’s reputation.

World Cup disappointment

The national team then suffered multiple losses in World Cup qualifiers and only just scraped through qualification.
Following the experience, Maradona became hostile to the world’s media, earning himself a two-month ban by FIFA from footballing activity after being quoted in a post-match conference, telling the press to “suck it and keep sucking it” after they questioned his managerial ability .
During the 2010 World Cup, the team experienced a mixture of encouraging and disappointing results. A 4-1 win against South Korea, a 1-0 triumph over Nigeria and a 2-0 success against Greece in their group secured progession, whilst a 3-1 win against Mexico in the last 16 pitted them against Germany in the quarter-finals.
Argentina’s run came to an end after a crushing 4-0 defeat to the Europeans, a huge disappointment for the team after their fifth place world ranking had promised far more success.
Controversy followed, after initial talks of a new four-year contract ultimately ended with the Argentine Football Association unanimously deciding not to renew his contract.
Maradona’s response was highly critical, claiming he had been "lied to" and "betrayed."

Mental weakness at Al Wasl

His attention soon switched to club management and Maradona’s next post was at United Arab Emirates outfit Al Wasl.
Inevitably controversy followed, leading to headlines in March for confronting opposition supporters and defending his wife against alleged fan abuse after a defeat to Al Shabab.
After only 14 months in charge, Maradona was sacked from his position following a disappointing season that saw Al Wasl finish eighth in the league, 28 points behind champions Al Ain.
Maradona and his coaching staff were dismissed after the club amassed 26 points from 22 matches, with only seven wins chalked up.
As a man notorious for his struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, as well as a reputation for hostile relations with both the media and his employers, his future in management must surely now be in doubt.
Undoubtedly one of the greatest footballing talents the world has ever seen, his playing days will certainly live longer in the memory than his managerial career.

By James Hartnett - Follow me on Twitter @JamesHartnett_
Follow Total Football on Twitter: @TotalFootball12

Reading snap up Nicky Shorey on a free transfer

Article posted on Total Football Magazine (online). Full artcicle can be found HERE

---------------------------------------------------------

Nicky Shorey has become Reading's fifth summer signing, after joining on a free transfer from West Bromwich Albion.
The 31-year-old, voted Reading’s best left back in history, has rejoined the club on a one-year contract after spells at Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Aston Villa and West Brom.
The option to extend his contract for another year has also been made available.
Shorey (pictured) was a free agent after being released by West Brom in May, alongside three other players, following a restructuring of the club under new manager Steve Clarke.
He had previously been competing for position against Joe Mattock and Liam Ridgewell who, following strong form after his January switch to the Hawthorns from Birmingham, had been regularly chosen as the club’s prime left back.
Shorey will return to Reading for the 2012/13 season and add to his tally of 267 appearances for the club, which he helped guide to promotion in 2006.
Reading have been busy in this summer’s transfer market, having also brought in Gareth McCleary, Danny Guthrie, Pierce Sweeney and former Fulham loanee Pavel Pogrebnyak.
The Royals first game of the season will see Stoke City travel to the Madejski Stadium on August 18, after being crowned Championship winners last season.

By James Hartnett – Follow me on Twitter @JamesHartnett_
Follow Total Football on Twitter: @TotalFootball12

Ex-Premier League global travellers

Article written for Total Football Magazine, July 2012. Full article can be found HERE

-------------------------------------------------------

The glitz and the glamour of playing in the Premier League, the pinnacle of league football worldwide, is enough to make most footballers weak at the knees.
For others however, the journey to the Premier League is but a stepping stone to a group of jet-setters hungry for a more illustrious, adventurous career spanning across the globe.
Former England captain David Beckham created a media frenzy after his move to Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy was announced in January 2007 and this has proved to be his stomping ground for the last five years.
His intentions questioned, with experience, fitness, money and fame all raised as potential reasons for his signature, Beckham’s influence at the club has seen them catapulted as one of the most recognised foreign clubs in the world.
His signing has no doubt raised the profile of American-based MLS too and Beckham’s move to the Galaxy outfit wasn’t wholly funded by his new club.
In a PR stunt managed by Beckham’s agency, figures of around $250m were being thrown around the press as to the transfer’s worth. In reality, the figure was far lower, with ‘Becks’ signing a contract worth a reported $32.5m (£21m) over five years.
Not only this but his transfer was funded by every club of the MLS – not just parent club LA Galaxy – with scope of raising MLS’ profile on the world stage.
The stunt worked, with Beckham’s elevated celebrity status drawing in sell-out crowds, increased merchandise sales figures and an influx of interest from owners and sponsors throughout the league.

Breaking into America

This experiment is just one highlight of a fleet of talent searching for new challenges away from the UK, with several Premier League players flocking across the Atlantic to grasp newfound stardom in America.
Beckham’s arrival at LA Galaxy paired him up with former Everton player Landon Donovan, whilst the capture of Spurs Irish striker Robbie Keane means he became the third player departing the British Isles to continue his footballing legacy Stateside.
Thierry Henry also joined the list of Premier League talent heading west in July 2010, prompting New York Red Bulls General Manager Erik Soler to declare his transfer will “help [Red Bulls] vision of making our organisation the premium franchise in Major League Soccer” after securing the ex-Gunner on a multi-year contract.
The move emphasised the business-minded venture MLS is taking in boosting their global profile, fuelled through the fame of their celebrity-esque players.

Asia-bound

Chelsea talisman Didier Drogba is to begin a similar venture this coming season, targeting a new life in Asia after signing for Chinese outfit Shanghai Shenhua under similar circumstances, a hefty transfer fee and a handsome contract proposal in hope that a player of Drogba’s calibre will also come attached with an established world following, something which can bring the Chinese Super League to the forefront of world football.
Drogba isn’t the only ex-Premier League star to flock to China for further football stardom. Having only planned to arrive in Shanghai on July 14, the Ivorian striker may be forced to watch from the stands as his new club take on league rival Beijing Guoan, led by ex-West Ham and Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute, after the club pried the Frenchman from Sevilla earlier this month.
A week later, Drogba could make his full debut against Guangzhou Fuli. Another club in the news, Fuli have also captured an ex-Premier League player in the form of Everton and Blackburn’s Yakubu, only days before announcement of Kanoute’s transfer filtered through.

Attraction to the East

Flocking to Russia after failing to settle in at Chelsea, Yuri Zhirkov joined the list of departures after accepting a four-year contract at Russian Premier League club Anzhi Makhachkala last season for a fee of £13.2m.
He joined global footballing icons Samuel Eto’o, Mbark Boussoufa and Roberto Carlos after Anzhi experienced a cash injection last year, following the purchase of the club by billionaire Suleyman Kerimov and has helped cement Anzhi Mahachkala in becoming one of the most recognisable teams in Eastern Europe since.
Following a playing career at the likes of Liverpool, Leeds United and Manchester City, Robbie Fowler was one of the earliest big-name Premier League stars to seek a playing career in a niche club abroad.
However, his move never materialised in heightening the stature of his consequent clubs and it wasn’t long until media reports of Fowler’s loss of fame surfaced.
In 2009, the Liverpudlian joined Australian A-League side North Queensland Fury, yet after enduring a drama-filled season at the club he soon departed to fellow A-League outfit Perth Glory, where he remained for a further year after being offered contracts with a string of other teams.
After a second remarkable season, he joined Thai football club Muangthong United, playing 13 times during a spell which saw him step up as player manager before returning to England to seek a career outside of football.
Albeit for money, fame or fitness, a fleet of Premier League talent have flocked elsewhere to continue playing football.
Mutually advantageous for all parties, keeping players fit and financially stable whilst promoting the team and league in which they play, the mass exodus over the recent seasons of players seeking football across the world will continue to be a popular change in career path for many seasons to come.

By James Hartnett – Follow me on Twitter @JamesHartnett_
Follow Total Football on Twitter: @TotalFootball12

Team GB's possible route to the final

Article written for Total Football Magazine, July 2012. Full article can be found HERE

----------------------------------------------------------

With the Olympics just 17 days away, Team GB are one of 16 nations to compete in the football competition. However, with the limelight firmly on Stuart Pearce’s men, there has been little media presence on the teams that Team GB could face.
As the host nation and fourth favourite team to claim the coveted gold medal, Team GB are expected to perform admirably. By this reckoning, a semi-final appearance is but the lowest target for the country’s young lions.
If they perform well enough, their route to the final will still be no easy feat – here’s who could pose the biggest threats at London 2012.

Group stage: Uruguay fight for top status

Team GB are up against Senegal, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay in Group A, with the latter proving the biggest threat to claiming top spot.
Uruguay have made their intentions clear, with first place in the group a priority.
Their 18-man squad was revealed yesterday, with Liverpool duo Luis Suarez and Sebastian Coates amongst them.
Suarez (pictured) has been selected as one of three over-aged players alongside Napoli striker Edinson Cavani and Palermo midfielder Egidio Arevalo Rios.
A rock in the defensive midfield position, Arevalo Rios has proved vital in Uruguay’s success, helping the team lift their 15th Copa America last year.
Suarez finished second in the scoring charts and whilst Cavani struggled to find the net, the scoring form of the Uruguayan strikers has seen them rack up 50 goals last season in a combined 86 matches.
It will be no surprise if this success is replicated during the Games.
Finishing fourth at the 2010 World Cup, Uruguay are aiming for their third Olympic title and could be strong contenders in both the group and knockout stages.

Quarter-finals: Mexico or Switzerland could await

If qualification from Group A is secured, Team GB will most probably face Mexico or Switzerland from Group B, depending on their finishing position.
Both hold strong chances of progressing to this stage but critics fear their routes could be short-lived, with defeat against either Team GB or Uruguay in the quarters posed as a likely outcome.
The big news is the exclusion of Manchester United and Mexico poacher Javier Hernandez, who has been sidelined from the Mexican Olympic squad at the discretion of club manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
With the Premier League season beginning on August 18, Ferguson does not want to chance his fitness going into the opening weekend of fixtures.
Leading the line instead will be Oribe Peralta, who has already scored six goals in five Olympic qualifying games and is a proud gold medal winner and top goal scorer of the 2011 Pan American Games.
Captained by veteran goalkeeper Jose de Jesus Corona, a controlled mix of defensive prowess and attacking vitality could see Mexico cause problems should Team GB be paired against them.
First-time qualifiers since 1928, Switzerland have performed above expectations recently.
Qualification from the group stage shouldn’t be beyond them, whilst Lorient striker Innocent Emeghara could prove a handful for Britain’s defence, if the key man continues his hot vain of club scoring form.

Semi-finals and beyond

Whittling the competition down to four teams is always a hard and highly complex task, yet if predictions prove correct, then Team GB will showdown against one of the big two – Brazil or Spain – unless an upset or rematch against Uruguay is on the cards.
Brazil’s roll of honour is the best in the world, but the one title to elude them is Olympic gold.
Rich with flair and an attacking instinct unrivalled by most, Brazil are firm favourites for the Olympic title this summer, hoping to build on their silver medal obtained during the 2008 Games in Beijing.
A tremendous amount of publicity has been given to Santos magician Neymar, yet London 2012 will be the first time he will perform on a mass global scale.
The trickster could easily walk away with the top billing if Brazil, also including Hulk and Alexandre Pato in the line-up, fulfil their promise as top Olympic nation.
National head coach Mano Menezes will guide the team and anything less than gold will hurt Brazil.
Spain, interestingly, failed to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. They did, however, triumph at Euro 2008 before going on to win the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.  The latter after conceding just one goal throughout the whole tournament.
The last time the national team lost in a competitive game was against France during the 2006 World Cup and they have since gone six years without defeat in a major tournament, something they will keenly wish to uphold.
Their Olympic team comprises huge promise including David de Gea, Cesar Azpilicueta, Adrian and Athletic Bilbao man Ander Herrera. They will be confident of mounting a challenge for Olympic gold.

By James Hartnett – Follow me on Twitter @JamesHartnett_
Follow Total Football on Twitter: @TotalFootball12