/sportsinfo/media/member_avatars/image 59.png)
Follow Us/sportsinfo/media/media_files/pplfpidvV48VDC81145I.png)
Despite the fact that both players are currently competing in the Copa America in the United States, Argentina has selected Nicolas Otamendi and Julian Alvarez for the Olympic Games in Paris.
Javier Mascherano, the two-time gold medal champion, is coaching the 18-man Olympic team. Among his overage players are 36-year-old Otamendi and 32-year-old goalie Geronimo Rulli. Alvarez of Manchester City and Otamendi of Benfica have each appeared in more than 50 matches for their teams this season. After the competition, when Argentina is in the quarterfinals, the trio with Rulli included in the Copa America roster as well, are expected to join Mascherano's team.
Argentina's captain and World Cup winner, Lionel Messi, had already said he would not be participating in the Olympics, citing the necessity to manage his hectic schedule. Just ten days following the Copa America final, on July 24, the men's football competition at the Olympics gets underway. In the 16-team competition, Argentina is grouped with Morocco, Iraq, and Ukraine.
Argentina squad for Paris Olympics 2024 is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Leandro Brey, Geronimo Rulli
Defenders: Marco Di Cesare, Julio Soler, Joaquin Garcia, Gonzalo Lujan, Nicolas Otamendi, Bruno Amione
Midfielders: Ezequiel Fernandez, Santiago Hezze, Cristian Medina, Kevin Zenon
Forwards: Giuliano Simeone, Luciano Gondou, Thiago Almada, Claudio Echeverri, Julian Alvarez, Lucas Beltran
Who do Argentina face in the Copa America 2024 quarter-final?
The defending champions Argentina and Ecuador meet off in the rematch from the 2021 Copa America quarterfinals, with a position in the last four on the line. With a perfect record, La Seleccion won all of their group A games, including their most recent 2-0 victory over Peru. In Group B, Ecuador finished second after holding Mexico to a scoreless draw.
In the Copa America, Argentina has never lost to Ecuador; in fact, they defeated them 3-0 in the 2021 quarterfinal match, while the World Cup champions have gone on to win four times in a row. La Tri has already advanced to the round of eight in this competition for the second time in a row. They have also advanced to the quarterfinals in three out of the past four Copa Americas.