Brighton Olympics interest switches to transfer targets
The Olympics dream is over for the two current Brighton players competing in Japan. Any Albion fans with an interest in what is happening in the football can instead focus on two transfer targets, both of whom appear to have realistic prospects of winning a medal.
Alexis Mac Allister and Argentina were eliminated following a 1-1 draw with Spain in their final match. Group C was delicately poised before kick off and any of the four nations could still have progressed to the quarter finals with a whole host of permutations.
In the end, a draw was not enough for Argentina who had to settle for third place behind Spain and Egypt, the Pharaohs pipping Mac Allister and co to the runners up spot on goal difference. That shock 2-0 defeat to Australia in their opening match proved to be Argentina’s downfall.
Spain dominated much of the match, particularly in the first half when they recorded 65 percent possession. Just like for much of Euro 2020 (in 2021), they did not really know what to do with it and registered only one shot on target in that opening 45 minutes.
Mac Allister’s one contribution of note was to try a spectacular bicycle kick which in fairness was not far away from beating Unai Simon in the Spain goal. The Albion’s number 10 was then hauled early in the second half with the scores still locked at 0-0.
11 minutes after Mac Allister’s departure from the action and Argentina fell 1-0 behind. Marco Asensio floated a cross towards the back post which was headed back across goal by Dani Olmo to find captain Mikel Merino who applied the finishing touch.
Argentina hauled themselves back into the game when Tomás ‘the Man from’ Belmonte met a corner with a powerful header to make it 1-1 with five minutes remaining.
An Argentine winner would have sent them through but they were unable to launch another meaningful attack and so it is sayōnara to Japan for Mac Allister and co.
Spain meanwhile are now one of the favourites to win the competition. Their Olympics squad features a number of players who made it to the Euro 2020 (in 2021) semi finals alongside some of the nation’s other talented under 23s – including Brighton target Marc Cucurella.
The left wing back was excellent against Argentina, bombing forward at every opportunity to cause chaos and confusion in the Spain defence.
In the first half, Cucurella delivered three superb crosses into the box which should have resulted in goals if Spain’s forwards could finish – a good warmup for Cucurella in the event that the Albion get their man for £15 million and it is Neal Maupay and Aaron Connolly squandering opportunities he creates in the 2021-22 season.
Spain will now face Ivory Coast in the last eight. The other Olympics quarter final worth keeping an eye on for Brighton fans will be Japan against New Zealand, where Kaoru Mitoma will hope to feature for the host nation who look to be in medal contention too after sailing through Group A with the only 100 percent record in the competition.
Mitoma was an unused substitute as Japan hammered France 4-0 to make it nine points from nine. Real Madrid star Takefusa Kubo continued his hot streak of scoring in every game so far.
He was joined on the scoresheet by Hiroki Sakai, Koji Miyoshi and Daizen Maeda whilst a miserable experience for France was rounded off by a red card for Randal Kolo Muani.
The Albion have been heavily linked with a £2.5 million move for Mitoma from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale. If a deal is completed, it will still be some time before we see the winger in England as he would not qualify for a British Work Permit, meaning a similar loan adventure around Belgium to that which Percy Tau had to undertake.
Whilst Brighton will be hoping to add Cucurella and Mitoma to their numbers, one man who seems likely to depart the Amex is Tudor Baluta who saw his own Olympics hopes dashed with Romania’s elimination.
Just like Mac Allister and Argentina, Baluta missed out on a spot in the last eight thanks to goal difference. Victory against New Zealand would have taken Romania through but they could only draw 0-0 with the country of lovely lamb and Chris Wood.
Baluta did not even make the bench for the stalemate at Sapporo Dome. According to Andy Naylor, Baluta will leave the Albion either on loan or permanently once he returns from the Olympics.
He spent last season with Dynamo Kiev after a temporary switch to Dutch side ADO Den Haag in the second half of 2019-20 was cut short due to the pandemic. Baluta is yet to make a Premier League appearance for the Albion since signing for £2.5 million from Viitorul Constanța in January 2019.
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