Defending champion Brazil fails to qualify for 2024 Paris Olympics

CARACAS: Brazil will not defend its Olympic men’s soccer title in Paris after losing 1-0 to its regional rival Argentina on Sunday.

In the decisive South American Olympic qualifier, Luciano Gondou scored the winner for the Argentina under-23 team coached by Javier Mascherano. He headed a cross from Valentin Barco past goalkeeper Mycael in the 78th minute at the Brigido Iriarte Stadium in Caracas.

Brazil won gold at men’s soccer in the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Olympics.

South America’s Olympic qualifying for men’s soccer offered two spots in Paris, where the men’s tournament starts July 24. Paraguay ended on the top of the table of the final group stage with seven points in three matches after its 2-0 win on Sunday against host Venezuela.

The Paraguayan team, which didn’t have star players like its two bigger continental rivals, also beat Brazil to secure its spot for France.

Argentina finished the tournament with five points, two more than Brazil, which only managed to beat Venezuela in the final stage.

Argentina had the upper hand in the first half but the defensive stance of Brazil, coached by Ramon Menezes, didn’t help bring much emotion to the match. World Cup winner Thiago Almada hit the post in the 16th minute.

Brazil last failed to make the men’s soccer Olympic tournament in 2004.

Argentina won the gold at men’s soccer at the games in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, with Lionel Messi leading the team in Beijing. The other team that has qualified is Paraguay and will be heading to Paris 2024.

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Talks turned towards luring Messi to compete for a second gold medal 16 years after his first. “The door is open for a player like him to join us,” said Argentina coach Javier Mascherano, a close friend of Messi and title-winning teammate at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “Then it depends on him and his commitments.” FIFA-written tournament rules do allow for each Olympic squad to include three over-age players in what is an Under-23 event for the men. There is no age restriction in the women’s event.