Like the Asian nations, the South American national teams will play, from 18th January to 9th February, the qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in order to clinch one of the two qualifying spots for Tokyo. Thirty players seen at the Maurice Revello Tournament will take part in this Sudamericano U23. Let's take a look !
LINE-UP
Group A : Colombia (country host), Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina
Group B : Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, Peru
THE 30 MAURICE REVELLO TOURNAMENT GRADUATES SELECTED FOR THE SUDAMERICANO U23
Brazil : Ivan, Phelipe, Guga, Iago, Bruno Fuchs, Walce, Matheus Henrique, Igor Gomes, Pedrinho, Bruno Tabata, Antony, Matheus Cunha, Paulinho,
Chile : Luis Ureta, Nicolas Diaz, Alex Ibacache, Nicolas Fernandez, Sebastian Cabrera, Gabriel Suazo, Camilo Moya, Tomas Alarcon, Pablo Aranguiz, Angelo Araos, Ivan Morales, Nicolas Guerra, Ignacio Jara, Franco Lobos
Paraguay : Rodi Ferreira, Mathias Villasanti, Sergio Diaz, Sergio Bareiro
ONES TO WATCH
Matheus Henrique (Brazil – Gremio)
The Maurice Revello Tournament 2019 winner established himself as a regular starter for Gremio in the Brazilian league and as well in the Copa Libertadores (semi-finalist). Meanwhile, the 22-year-old midfielder made his international debut with the Brazil senior national team on October. He's obviously one of the most experienced players of the Brazilian Olympic team and he's expected to lead his team during this Sudamericano.
Antony (Brazil – Sao Paulo)
Even if he's the only player in this list to not be a senior international, the 19-year-old is a very promising player. Technically gifted, the Sao Paulo attacking midfielder has been in excellent form in the last games played in the Brazilian league and helped his side to secure a spot for the next Copa Libertadores. His dribbles on the right wing may cause some troubles to the opponents...
Tomas Alarcon (Chile – O’Higgins)
Following the Maurice Revello Tournament 2019, the O'Higgins midfielder played his first game with the Chile senior national team, on 6th September, against the Argentina of Dybala, Otamendi & co. This first cap rewards a promising start to the career for the 20-year-old who has already 50 Primera Divison games to his name.
Gabriel Suazo (Chile – Colo Colo)
One of the key players of the most successful club in Chile's history, that's to say Colo Colo, the 22-year-old midfielder is one the marquee names of the Chilean Olympic team. Recognized for his huge work-rate, Suazo is as well able to score sometimes like illustrated by his goal in the Superclasico against Universidad de Chile on October.
Mathias Villasanti (Paraguay – Cerro Porteno)
After two successive loan spells (including one in the Argentinian top-flight at CA Temperley), the 22-year-old came back at Cerro Porteno last winter with the desire to eventually establish himself as a regular starter for his childhood club. Villasanti reached his aim as he played 46 games including 10 Copa Libertadores fixtures. Enough to convince the Paraguay senior team head coach to hand him his international debut on October against Slovakia (1-1).
Sergio Diaz (Paraguay – Cerro Porteno)
Named Maurice Revello Tournament 2016 breakthrough player, the Paraguayan forward has been signed few months later by Real Madrid and made as well his senior international debut with Albirroja against France (0-5) on June 2017.
Since that, things didn't go as expected. After two frustrating loan spells at Lugo (Spanish second division) and at Corinthians (Brazil), Diaz has been loaned out by Real Madrid last summer to his former club Cerro Porteno. In Paraguay, Diaz is playing regularly and rediscovered the sensation to score. Now, he has to confirm his upturn in form during the Sudamericano.
Amayes Brahmi