Beckham backs Bolt to gloat - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

David Beckham believes sprinting superstar Usain Bolt should carry on showboating, saying: "If you're that good, you deserve to gloat."Beckham arrived in Beijing on Saturday ahead of the Olympics closing ceremony, in which he is playing a leading role in London 2012's set, and admitted he has been awed by the Jamaican.

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Four years ago it was Carlos Tevez, on Saturday Benfica's Angel Di María secured his place in Argentine football history by becoming the second man to score a gold medal-winning goal for his country in the Olympic Football Tournament. In a final played in scorching heat in the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing, Argentina rode [. Click to continue reading...

It's about time too... The Olympic football tournament didn't do it for me (while at this very moment Nigeria and Argentina play for the gold...). I think partly due to the horrible broadcast of this here Olympics, and due to Holland's inability to live up to their reputation and ambitions. So, Click to continue reading...

In a couple of hours' time, Argentina will be going for a second gold medal of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games when the men's football team take on Nigeria, their conquerors in Atlanta 1996, in the OFT final. Argentina are seeking to defend their title, having demolished arch-rivals Brazil 3-0 in the semi, with Liverpool [. Click to continue reading...

Nigeria 4-1 Belgium Argentina 3-0 Brasil Argentina and Nigeria are set to play each other in the final of the men's Olympic football tournament in Beijing's main stadium, the Bird's Nest, on August 23rd. Nigeria thumped Belgium 4-1 in their Olympic semi-final tie. The African side opened up scoring in the 17th minute. Click to continue reading...

To avoid any possible confusion should anyone be typing in terms to search engines looking for Argentine national team news today, I'll start by pointing out that this has nothing at all to do with the Olympic Football Tournament. Argentina's senior side (minus Riquelme and Mascherano of course) take on Belarus in Minsk at 8pm local [. Click to continue reading...

The Olympic Football Tournament is the one international tournament Brazil have never won (of the ones they compete in of course, because obviously they've never been crowned champions of Europe or what have you), and it will have to remain as such for at least the next four years. On Tuesday the selecção met the [. Click to continue reading...

On Tuesday, Brazil take on archenemies Argentina for a place in the final of the men's Olympic football tournament in Beijing Click to continue reading...

Argentina advanced to the semi-finals of the Olympic Football Tournament in China on Saturday, after beating the Netherlands 2-1 after extra time in Shanghai. Barcelona star Lionel Messi was the key man for an Argentine side who found it hard, at times, to get out of first gear, but who still created more good chances [. Click to continue reading...

While we lament the loss of the Nigerian Super Falcons in the Women's Olympic football tournament, praise must be heaped on the African men, who all swept into the quarterfinals of the men's Olympic tournament.

One thing we know for sure is that Africa will be represented in the semi-finals, as Nigeria take on Ivory Coast in the last eight. Click to continue reading...

Ladies and gentlemen, these are exciting times.

At this very moment, the Olympic football tournament is enthralling a worldwide audience in Beijing, China. Throughout Europe, qualification games for the Champions League and UEFA Cup are already sorting the men from the boys as the quest for continental domination starts its long and arduous journey. Click to continue reading...

Argentina rounded off their Olympic Football Tournament group campaign with an academic defeat of Serbia on Wednesday. Having already qualified for the quarter-finals, Sergio Batista rested Juan Román Riquelme, Javier Mascherano and (to the disappointment of a Chinese crowd who'd turned up specially to see him) Lionel Messi, and was rewarded with a 2-0 win [. Click to continue reading...

The sporting security authorities suffered a blow on Tuesday, when it was announced that Javier Castrilli, 'El Sheriff', Subsecretary of Sporting Events Security, had resigned from his post. Disagreements with Aníbal Fernández, the Minister of Justice and Security, led Castrilli to feel that, 'the most healthy and least traumatic option [for me] was to resign. Click to continue reading...

Argentina are still a long way from shining as brightly as they might do, but they confirmed their place in the quarter-finals of the Olympic Football Tournament on Sunday, beating Australia by a solitary goal after an underwhelming performance which saw the Aussies' spirited rearguard eventually broken by a brilliant counter-attacking goal from Napoli's Ezequiel [. Click to continue reading...

Solomon Kalou of Chelsea celebrates the Ivory Coast's goal with a teammate / AP Photo Matchday one is in the books for 2008 Men's Olympic Football tournament with Argentina, Brazil, the United States and Italy all recording victories. However some performances were more impressive than others: Brazil for example were outplayed badly by Belgium for [. Click to continue reading...

The goals from the first match of the men's Olympic Football Tournament between Argentina and Ivory Coast are online now, and you can watch them right here. I offer a metaphorical doff of the cap to anyone who can tell me what on earth Oscar Ustari is doing for Ivory Coast's equaliser... Argentina 2 - 1 [. Click to continue reading...

Lionel Messi talked to Barcelona, Lionel Messi played for Argentina. Lionel Messi set one up and scored one as Argentina beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in the opening match of the men's Olympic Football Tournament to begin the defence of the gold medal won in Athens four years ago. Barcelona having apparently decided to allow the [. Click to continue reading...

Africa is sending only one nation to the 2008 Women's Olympic Football Tournament: Nigeria.

Nigeria are a dominant force in African women's football, winning the continental championship seven times. But when it comes to the world stage, the Super Falcons barely register a blip.

In five appearances at the FIFA Women's World Cup finals, two at the Olympic Football Tournament and three at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, the Super Falcons have only managed to progress beyond the opening round on two occasions. Click to continue reading...

Yeah, I know it's been quiet around here lately. But frankly, there hasn't been much that I've felt like writing about. I'm choosing to ignore Toronto FC's terrible run of form, and the transfer window is no more exciting than it was a month ago, which is to say, not at all.

But finally, we have some games that actually matter. Click to continue reading...

After a horrible, endless wait since, oh, a month-and-a-half or so ago, competitive football returned to Argentine soil on Tuesday night as Independiente met Estudiantes de La Plata in the first round of the Copa Sudamericana. It was looking pretty good for Estudiantes, who had an away goal to push them slightly ahead thanks to debutant [. Click to continue reading...

The men's Olympic football tournament will be one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the upcoming 2008 Beijing Games.

This year's tournament features three teams from Africa, with Cameroon, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast sending over their young, developing talent in hopes of Olympic glory. Click to continue reading...

Martin Rogers, World Soccer writer for Yahoo! Sports joins host Kartik Krishnaiyer on Episode 51. We review how the Euro 2008  tournament was received in England, preview tonight's Superliga final between Houston and New England as well as look ahead to the Olympic Football tournament which Martin will cover in person from China. Click to continue reading...

So you've read the Argentina squad profile for the Olympic Games that I wrote for Soccerlens, and still want more? You're in luck, because I was very busy this weekend. Another one has now gone up on new Australian online magazine The 84th Minute, edited by ocassional HEGS commentor Neil Zimmerman, who wanted to me [. Click to continue reading...

The Olympic Football Tournament kicks off on Thursday (yes, that is before the official start of the Games, which is on Friday), and Argentina, as the defending gold medalists from four years ago in Athens, will be red-hot favourites to retain the title, thanks in large part to an attacking lineup that would terrify most [. Click to continue reading...

The Olympic Football Tournament is probably not going to be the highlight of your year as a fan. Be honest, football isn't what you'll be watching the Olympics for, after all. And with the European Championship and the Copa Libertadores having provided some brilliant football and no end of surprises, and the UEFA Champions League [. Click to continue reading...

Good news for Sergio Batista. Lionel Messi's decision was announced on Wednesday, and he's got FIFA's backing: he wants to link up with Argentina's Olympic squad for the Beijing 2008 Games. With the callup now accepted by the player, Barcelona are obliged under FIFA's regulations to release Messi for the tournament, since as an under-23, [. Click to continue reading...

HEGS is back, but it feels, I must say, a bit like I hadn't really been away. When I left for Havana, Sergio Batista had named Lionel Messi in the squad for the Olympic Football Tournament, and Barcelona president Joan Laporta was making some decidedly 'we'll have to see about that'-type noises. The novel seems [. Click to continue reading...

On the European Continent and on the British Isles the view of the Olympic football Tournament is completely different than in the rest of the world. In Europe the tournament is seen as more of a nuisance than anything, while among those in the Western Hemisphere and in Africa it is seen as big deal. Click to continue reading...

Who do you think will win the 2008 Olympic Football Tournament in China? Will defending champions Argentina take the gold, or will Brazil's experience shine through? Can the Dutch and the Italians replicate their European form at the Olympics? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. I've listed the groups and the [. Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

In the ongoing power struggle over whether or not U-23 star players will be allowed to play in the Beijing Olympics, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has stated his position, sending out a letter to all member associations stating that the release of under-23s is obligatory, reports the Telegraph.

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The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China are but a few weeks away.

The men's Olympic Football Tournament looks like it will be a hotly contested competition, with countries like Argentina, Holland and the United States seeking Olympic gold.

Africa will be well represented with three formidable squads in the 16-team tournament for the gold medal. Click to continue reading...

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games kick off in a month, with the 2008 Olympic football tournament from 6th to 24th August. For these games, the men will compete in a 16-team tournament (7th to 24th August) (the women will compete in a 12-team tournament - 6th to 21st August) with four groups of four [. Click to continue reading...

Italy are, along with Argentina and Brazil, one of the favourites to win a medal in the Olympic Football tournament this year. Italy Olympic Football squad for Beijing 2008: Coach: Pierluigi Casiraghi Goalkeepers: Andrea Consigli (21) (Atalanta) Emiliano Viviano (22) (Brescia) Salvatore Sirigu (21) (Cremonese) Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (21) (Genoa) Andrea Coda (23) (Udinese) Domenico Criscito (21) (Genoa) Paolo De Ceglie (21) (Juventus) Lorenzo De Silvestri [. Click to continue reading...

Olympic Football squads for the 16 teams participating at the 2008 Olympics: Squads for the 2008 Olympic Football Tournament can be submitted till 23rd July. As the remaining squad lists are published, they will be added to the site and linked to from the list below. Group A Argentina Australia Ivory Coast Serbia Group B Japan Netherlands Nigeria USA Group C Belgium Brazil China New Zealand Group D Cameroon Honduras Italy Korea Republic Also See: Beijing 2008 [. Click to continue reading...

New Zealand are rank outsiders in the Beijing Olympic Football tournament - not to be disrespectful but surely the whole qualification process can be tweaked so that competitive teams show up for football at the Olympics? The New Zealand Olympic Football squad for Beijing 2008: Coach: Stu Jacobs Goalkeepers: Liam Little (22) (Otago United) Jacob Spoonley (21) (Miramar Rangers) Defenders: Michael Boxall [. Click to continue reading...