Emiliano Draw Martinez was vital in the two victories of Argentina, against Canada and Chile, in the first dates of the Copa América, thus guaranteeing the National Team’s passage to the quarterfinals. However, the 31-year-old goalkeeper did not will be able to protect the U23 team’s goal at the Paris Olympicswhich in the football discipline will begin next July 24.
It is that, as his environment let it be known, beyond the effort of the Mar del Plata native himself to convince the Aston Villa to be allowed to participate, he was unable to obtain authorization. Consequently, Javier Mascheranocoach of the youth team, will have to use the third senior spot (on a list of 18 names) on another candidate.
There are already three world champions confirmed at the event. Two over 23 years old (Nicolás Otamendi and Julián Álvarez) and a smaller one (Thiago Almadawho is being transferred from Atlanta United to Botafogo in Brazil, a stopover prior to his jump to Olympique Lyon). And everything indicates that the fourth will be Geronimo Rulli.
The goalkeeper from Estudiantes, 32 years old, is part of Lionel Scaloni’s squad in the Copa América in the United States, along with Draw and Franco Armani. And he also has his medal in Qatar. In recent times he has not had much experience at Ajax in the Netherlands, however, he has secured a place in the continental competition, relegating Walter Benítez, who seemed to have the advantage.
With several offers in the current transfer market (from Betis of Spain, among other clubs), he already has experience in the Olympics: he participated in the stormy 2016 edition in Rio de Janeiro, with an AFA in crisis, so many of those chosen by Gerardo Martino were not loaned, Tata He resigned and Julio Olarticoechea took over as an emergency, but the team felt the earthquake and could not fight for a medal. For Rulli, of course, it would represent revenge.
The 32-year-old footballer saved all three games in that competition that saw the Albiceleste leave in the group stage, placing themselves behind the leader Portugal and Honduras, which had the same score but relegated the National Team to third place due to having a better goal difference.
In that Olympic competition that ended with Brazil taking home the gold medal, the then Real Sociedad player defended the three posts in the defeat against the Portuguese (0-2), the victory against Algeria (2-1) and the draw against the Hondurans (1-1).
“I know I have to fight a little more with the club, it is not 100% given, but on my part it is a wish.. It is not mandatory for the clubs to give us up. Aston Villa did not let any player go, but I always put the National Team first. If I have to fight a little more, I will.“, however, Martínez recently stated about the bid with the Premier League team.
While this scenario is developing, Mascherano finishes fine-tuning the roster of 18 footballers who will take to Paris 2024. With Dibu’s chance fading, and while Rulli’s actions to occupy the three Olympic posts again grow, the alternative goalkeeper would be the Boca youth Leandro Brey (21 years old). The one that emerged from the Andes, which landed in the Xeneize In 2022, he is the usual defender of the goal in the Under 23 since the group began to be formed.
The national team will begin its journey on Wednesday July 24 against Morocco in it Stade Geoffroy-Guichard from the city of Saint-Étienne from 10 in the morning (Argentine time). Three days later, the Saturday 27thwill play the second day against Iraq in it Stade de Lyon (10 am) and will close its activity in the area against Ukraine on Tuesday the 30th of that month again in Lyon (from 12 noon).
However, there will be activity prior to the official commitments: they will face the local team in France FC Rouen 1899 (July 15) already the Guinea national team (July 19) as preparation for the main championship.
