Comments on: Messi takes a step closer to Beijing

By: honest

honest — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:20:01 +0000

they don’t want to lose him but you’re right, athletes who are eligible to be in the Olympics should be able to go..

By: honest

honest — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:19:04 +0000

I can see why they don’t want to lose him but you’re right, athletes who are eligible to be in the Olympics should be able to go.

By: honest

honest — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:18:42 +0000

I can see why they don’t want to lose him but you’re right, athletes who are eligible to be in the Olympics should be able to go if they want.

By: kovosoccer

kovosoccer — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:54:45 +0000

let the players play.

http://www.soccershop.com

By: Erik

Erik — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:17:44 +0000

Yes, exactly. Klinsmann has raved about his Olympics’ experience…and he practices what he preaches now as a coach too. Bayern have released their two U-23 players, Breno to Brazil and Jose Ernesto Sosa to Argentina, without a lot of fanfare. I had a chance earlier this year to briefly talk to Klinsmann directly about that club/Olympics conflict over China and he said he saw no problem with allowing a reasonable number of players go. He did, however, not want the whole team going or even half of it running off — and understandably turned down requests from players OVER 23 who wanted to go: Martin Demichelis of Argentina, Lucio of Brazil and Mark van Bommel of the Netherlands. There wasn’t a lot of complaining. And I’ll bet Breno and Sosa will come back better, happier players (with valuable international experience) than they would have been had they been forced to stay in Germany. I just can’t imagine how enthused Diego and Rafinha could be for their clubs if they had been chained down to Germany instead of going to China.

By: diana

diana — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:20:26 +0000

Erik, are you referring to this (regarding what Juergen Klinsmann has to say)?

‘The moment I received the bronze medal in the Olympics in Seoul 1988 when Germany beat Italy it was my number one outstanding emotion’.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter quoted what Klinsmann wrote in his book today. Until now, I only vaguely remembered what Klinsmann has to say of his own Olympic experience.

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0 ,16368,3033_3909660,00.html

By: Red Devil

Red Devil — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:22:38 +0000

@ Beautifulgamer: It’s Barcelona who are being selfish and not Messi. There can be no “special cases” mate, or at least there shouldn’t be, rules are rules and they should apply to everyone.

By: Red Devil

Red Devil — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:18:23 +0000

They absolutely should Eric, I agree with FIFA on this hands down. Messi will only miss Barca’s 3rd round CL qualifiers with Beitar Jerusalem or Wisla Krakow, if they can’t get through with or without him they don’t deserve to go through. But that’s not what this is about — it’s about top clubs trying to prove they are above the law and it’s only right to make sure they are not.

By: ThoHa

ThoHa — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:57:35 +0000

I think it comes down to having a clear ruling that becomes part of the contracts. I am sure FIFA and IOC will learn their lesson from this year, as it has seriously damaged the relationship between some great young (and let’s say: diplomatically yet unskilled) players and their clubs.

By: Erik Kirschbaum

Erik Kirschbaum — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:18:14 +0000

Sorry ThoHa and BG — Any club (even Barcelona) that signs a talented young under 23 player should simply know that there is this risk of him being called up by his country for the Olympics. What’s the point of having 2 sets of rules? One for the Haves and one for the Have Nots? Does anyone ever really consider this from the players’ P.O.V? Will an Olympics spice up and enhance a player’s career? Or will it be a burden? I think if you look back at some of the comments from former Olympic soccer players (see Juergen Klinsmann’s comments on that) you’ll see what I mean.