When it comes to the major sporting events, there is often a lot of talk about the benefits of home advantage. There is definitely a great deal to be said for having a passionate and noisy crowd behind you and you can see why many people are tipping Brazil to have an impact on the basketball tournament being played out in Rio this summer.
However, sometimes the fans desire and demands can work against a team. Some teams don’t deal with pressure all that well and it may be that Brazil struggle to get into a rhythm with their fans demanding success. Sometimes playing in a hostile atmosphere can inspire players to play above themselves. Certain characters are inspired by aggression and animosity against them and this is likely to be something that will impact on the Argentinean team in the 2016 Olympic Games.
The sporting rivalry between Argentina and Brazil is well documented but the Argentinean team will be confident of heading to Brazil and having a positive impact on the tournament. The Argentinean line-up for the Brazil Games has been finalised and their fans now know who to pin their hopes on.
This will be the last major tournament for many Argentinean players
The Argentinean side is definitely aging and this is likely to be the last big tournament for these players. This may mean that the side tails off in some games but with class players like Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola and Carlos Defino who all have NBA experience in their locker, they should know how to deal with difficult situations. With Andres Nocioni having massive experience in Europe with Real Madrid, you have to say that the Argentinean team has all the expertise you need in a major tournament.
The twelve players in the Argentinian squad for the 2016 Olympic Games are as follows:
- Roberto Acuna
- Nicolas Brussino
- Facundo Campazzo
- Gabriel Deck
- Carlos Delfino
- Marcos Delia
- Patricio Garino
- Manu Ginobili
- Nicolas Laprovittola
- Leo Mainoldi
- Andres Nocioni
- Luis Scola
There probably isn’t too much expectation on Argentina to finish with a medal but there are hopes that they can get out of the group stages and once that happens, anything can occur. If Argentina do manage to grab some wins, you can expect the home crowd in Rio to be very quiet at those times!
Argentina have fairly long odds for the 2016 Olympic Basketball Tournament in Rio, being found at 36.00. However, they should be more than comfortable in Brazil and they will also have a great sense of international pride in playing for their nation in Brazil. You can guarantee that the Argentinean team will be in for a hot response from the local basketball crowd but this may be just the thing that inspires them to a greater level of play and intensity.
Team USA are clear favourites and the European giants of Spain and France look the most likely to challenge America but it may be that Argentina can cause some upsets on the path to the medals in Rio.
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