These might be Sydney's Games, but all eyes will be on Melbourne today as years of planning, preparation and practice finally give way to the first real Olympic action. Australia's clash with Italy in front of a 90,000 sell-out crowd in the huge Melbourne Cricket Ground is the pick of the four men's and two women's matches that will kick off the Olympic football tournament two days before the Games are officially opened.
On paper, the Italians, one of the favourites for gold, look too good for an Australian side that has been deprived of its most influential players - Leeds striker Harry Kewell and Middlesborough midfielder Paul Okon - through injury. But coach Raul Blanco is hoping a combination of Olympic fever and home advantage will help to bridge the gulf in quality between the two sides.
"The injuries have definitely upset our planning," he admitted. "But cometh the hour, cometh the man and I'm confident that other players in this side will rise to the occasion." Men's football at the Olympics is an under-23 competition, but coaches are allowed to call on three over-age players.
Italian coach Marco Tardelli has foregone that option, preferring instead to rely on the group of players he guided to the European under-21 title earlier this year. Inter Milan's Andrea Pirlo, a playmaker in the Roberto Baggio mould, is seen as the pick of the bunch.
Nigeria, the men's gold medallists in Atlanta four years ago, have been drawn with Australia and Italy in Group A and kick-off their title defence in Adelaide against Honduras. The Super Eagles should prove too strong for the central Americans, but their chances of retaining the Olympic title have been undermined by their failure to secure the release of many of their European-based players, including Arsenal forward Kanu.
Chelsea's Celestine Babayaro and Lawal Garba, from Roda JC Kerkrade, are the only survivors from the squad that beat Argentina 3-2 in the Olympic final four years ago.
In the other men's matches today, the US face the Czech Republic in Canberra, while Cameroon face Kuwait in Brisbane. Gold-medal favourites Brazil open their campaign tomorrow against Slovenia in Brisbane.
Australia's women begin their campaign for a medal with a tough clash against Germany. The Matildas, whose efforts to promote soccer down under have included stripping off for a calendar, believe they can give the game another boost with their performances on the pitch.
With the big three powers in women's football - the United States, China and Norway - all drawn together in Group B, the Australians have a realistic chance of a medal. Sweden take on Brazil in today's other Group A match.
The Australia-Italy match in Melbourne is one of eight matches that are already sold out and the tournament's organisers are confident that total attendances will come close to the record of $1.2 million set in Atlanta.
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