Under 23 men’s team presents itself for Pre-Olympic football
In addition to Brazil, 9 other countries will compete for two places in Paris 2024
Published on January 8, 2024 at 10:45 pm
null Credit: Joilson Marconne/CBF
The Brazilian men’s Under 23 team is already complete at Granja Comary, CBF headquarters in Teresópolis (RJ), where it will prepare for the South American Pre-Olympic Tournament, starting on January 20, in Venezuela. The 23 players called up by Ramon Menezes will undergo medical assessments before the first training session later this afternoon.
Andrey Santos greets Ramon Menezes, coach of the Brazilian Under 23 team, who debuts against Bolivia on January 23, in Caracas, in Group A Credit: Joilson Marconne/CBF
Before heading by bus to Teresópolis, the athletes gradually arrived at Santos Dumont Airport, the meeting point. Among them, Andrey Santos, from Rio, formerly of Vasco, who currently plays for Nottlngham Forest, a club in the first division of English football.
“I am really happy. It’s always an honor to be here, serving my country”, said the 19-year-old athlete. “Expectations are always the best. Even more so when it comes to Brazil. We always want to go in to win, but we know it’s a very difficult championship. We need to work hard. And we know it’s step by step. So, God willing, everything will be fine.”
Current two-time Olympic champions (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020), Brazil debuts against Bolivia, on January 23, in Group A, which also includes Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. In bracket B are Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
In the first phase of the tournament, all teams from each group face each other in a single game. The best two in each group qualify for the next stage, the quadrangular. The two teams with the best scores in the quadrangular advance to the final and, as a bonus, qualify for the Paris Games.
In the first phase of the tournament, all teams from each group face each other in a single game. The best two in each group qualify for the next stage, the quadrangular. The two teams with the best scores in the quadrangular advance to the final and, as a bonus, qualify for the Paris Games.
After Bolivia, the team will face Colombia on February 26th, Ecuador three days later and, finally, Venezuela on February 1st. All group stage games will take place at the Brígido Iriarte Stadium, in Caracas. The Pre-Olympic final is scheduled for February 11th.
The women’s Olympic team already has a guaranteed presence in Paris 2024. The team secured a spot in the selection and will not have to compete in the Pre-Olympics as it secured a spot in Paris 2024 by winning the Copa América last year.
