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Olympic Soccer 2012: Top 10 U-20 Olympic Players

Allan JiangJun 7, 2018

Football at the 2012 London Olympics will enable us to watch some exciting young talents.

The compulsory age is 23, plus three overaged players, but this article will list the top 10 Olympic footballers that are 20 years or younger.

Why 20 years or younger? Youngsters who have high ceiling for success are generally the ones that emphatically outperform older and more experienced players.ย 

For example, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, รngel di Marรญa's sleek dribbling and ability to make something happen earmarked him as a future world-beater. Sergio Batista had a loaded squad that tournament with the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Agรผero, Ezequiel Lavezzi, ร‰ver Banega, Fernando Gago, Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Romero.

During the 2004 Athens Olympics, Carlos Tรฉvez introduced himself to the world with some breathtaking performances.

Four years earlier in Sydney, some kid called Xavier Hernรกndez Creus played as if he were the overaged player.

10. Morocco: Zakaria Labyad

1 of 10

Sporting Lisbon, Right Forward, Age: 19

Ifย Zakaria Labyad were slow, he'd be a No. 10. Since he's blessed with swift acceleration, he played out wide for a large majority of last season.ย 

Even though he played well, you always got the feeling that he could be so much better. It didn't help his cause that he failed to produce in big games such as aย 2-0 loss toย Ajax and a 1-1 draw againstย Valencia.ย 

He recentlyย said:ย "I will play where the coach wants but if you give me the choice, I would prefer to act as attacking midfielder behind the striker."

Translation: don't play me out wide.

No wonder he cut a frustrated figure atย PSV Eindhoven.

9. Spain: Cristian Tello

2 of 10

Barcelona, Left Forward, Age: 20

Cristian Tello may not be as fast asย Theo Walcott over an extended distance, but the Spaniard has ridiculous acceleration.ย 

From a standing position, it takes one movement for him to createย separationย from the full-back. He needs to be given the license to dribble because he can drag several opposing players out of position.ย 

The way he shoots the ball, the way he passes and the movement without the ballโ€”he just looks like a class player.ย 

For someone of his ability, he is fullyย committedย to theย Barรงa way, even though he should be playing more games: "I still have a deal with Barca and I intend to spend many more years at this club. I am convinced that this is the right place for me and that I wouldn't be happy at another club."

8. Spain: Oriol Romeu

3 of 10

Chelsea, Defensive Midfielder, Age: 20ย 

Oriol Romeu told Sport (via ESPN Soccernet):ย 

"

If [Barcelona coach] Tito Vilanova wants me there, I would talk to him and discuss it with him. If they want me to enjoy my football and show some confidence in me, then onwards and upwards.ย 

I've always felt like a big Barcelona supporter, I am very grateful to FC Barcelona and it's thanks to them that I am where I am. Returning to Barcelona is an option but it depends on many things, because I want to play.

They have the option to buy me back, I left knowing I had that option, and if they still have confidence in me, as they showed by leaving the option open, then they should let me know.

"

He isn't even a regular starter for Chelsea and he is already pondering about returning to Barรงa. Why doย La Masia graduates have such loyalty when they're not wanted?ย 

Whenย Romeu did play for Chelsea, he was tenacious in the tackle and tidy with his passing.ย 

If he continues to develop, he'll be an elite midfielder. The question is: Do the Blues want to be a feeder club toย Barรงa?ย 

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7. Great Britain: Steven Caulker

4 of 10

Tottenham Hotspur, Centre-Back, Age: 20

Unlike some centre-backs, Steven Caulker is composed with the ball at his feet. He completed 87.3 percent of his passes whilst averaging 61.5 passes per game.ย 

He's mobile, he is solid in the air, he can block the ball, and he possesses good positional awareness.

He's the prototypical centre-back in Andrรฉ Villas-Boas' high-line system.ย 

However, the Portuguese manager is likely to start Jan Vertonghen withย Younรจs Kaboul. Both players need to perform because if they're as inconsistent asย David Luiz,ย Caulker will come straight into the starting XI.ย 

6. Switzerland: Ricardo Rodríguez

5 of 10

Wolfsburg, Left-Back, Age: 19

Marcel Schรคfer was moved into midfield because Felix Magathย wanted to see whatย Ricardo Rodrรญguez could offer.ย 

In an extended run,ย Rodrรญguez won back possession 74 times in 17 games, showing glimpses of world-class ball-winning ability.ย 

He needs to be smarter with possession because he attempted too many low-percentage passes. That's the reason why he only completed 71 percent of his passes last season.ย 

5. Spain: Iker Muniain

6 of 10

Athletic Bilbao, Left Attacking Midfielder, Age: 19

Several seasons ago,ย Iker Muniain only played 13 professional games as a schoolboy.

He played 58 games last season, and it was evident that he struggled with fatigue towards the latter half of the season.ย 

His body took a beating as he was forced to attack with pace and press like crazy to win back possession.ย Hopefully, he doesn't deteriorate as he ages because he burnt out last season.ย 

4. Brazil: Lucas Moura

7 of 10

Sรฃo Paulo, Right Forward, Age: 19

What in the world isย Mano Menezes thinking in bringingย Hulk to the Olympics? His inclusion in the squad is likely to mean the world will only seeย Lucas Moura as aย Denรญlson-like impact sub.ย 

Lucas' low centre of gravity, combined with his mesmerizing ball control, allows him to dribble past several opposing players with ease.ย 

Denรญlson used to enjoyย humiliatingย his opponents, as opposed to scoring or providing goals on a consistent basis.ย 

Lucas needs to provide the goods likeย Neymar, assuming theย Sรฃo Paulo forward wants to have a more fruitful career thanย Denรญlson.ย 

3. Brazil: Oscar

8 of 10

Internacional, Attacking Midfielder, Age: 20ย 

Oscar has demonstrated versatilityย by playing on the left during theย FIFA U-20 World Cup, playing a deep-lying role forย Mano Menezes, and displaying the ability to play as a No. 10.ย 

Chelsea signingย Oscar would be as bizarre as them signingย Kevin de Bruyne, only to signย Eden Hazard a few months later.ย 

It's as ifย Roman Abramovich wants to stockpile the best young players in the game regardless of team cohesiveness.ย 

Hazard will be the No. 10, so perhapsย Oscar can play on the left? Nope,ย Juan Mata will play there. Would playing on the right be the right move forย Oscar? Yes, because Chelsea would have three interchanging creative midfielders inย Oscar,ย Hazard andย Mata. Though what aboutย Ramires?ย 

Playingย Oscar in a deep-lying position would be a waste of his attacking talent.ย 

Giovanni Luigi told Radio Gaucha (viaย ESPN Soccernet): "The proposal wasn't as good as expected. We think Oscar is worth more than โ‚ฌ20 million."

Luigi mayย end up laughing his way to the bank becauseย Abramovich has next to no self-control when it comes to signing players forย disproportionateย transfer fees.ย 

2. Spain: Isco

9 of 10

Mรกlaga, Attacking Midfielder, Age: 20

Isco orย Iker Muniain?ย Isco.ย 

League OnlyIscoย Muniain
Goals52
Shots Per Goal12.421
Assists43
Shots Created Per Game1.31.3
Completed Dribbles Per Game21.8
Tackles Per Game21.6
Interceptions Per Game1.51.6

Isco is better thanย Muniain, but theย Mรกlaga maestro doesn't receive enough credit.ย Isco is excellent without the ball and even better with it.ย 

His shooting could be better, but heย compensatesย with dangerous dribbling and incisive passing.ย 

1. Brazil: Neymar

10 of 10

Santos, Left Forward, Age: 20

Neymar is the most over-hyped player in recent memory. Does he deserve it? Yes, because he's a world-class player and a great entertainer.ย 

He can poach goals, he can create (when he wants to), and he is arguably the most lethal dribbler right now.ย 

He was pretty mediocre against the United States, but he still scored and provided two goals. He wasย disappointingย in the recentย Copa Libertadores game againstย Corinthians, yet he still scored. This shows how excellent his footballing instincts are.ย 

If he wants to shut his critics up, he needs to emulate or even better whatย Carlos Tรฉvez achieved at theย 2004 Athens Olympics.

Connect withย +allanjiang

โญ๏ธ The Champions: Episode 2 โญ๏ธ

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