Actually a Sports Blog

What CONMEBOL teams would compete in women's soccer at Paris 2024 if countries boycott due to Russian and Belarussian athletes being allowed to potentially qualify?  Currently Qualified: Colombia (won the first semifinal) and Brazil (won the second semifinal) If Colombia withdraws, their spot would more than likely go to Argentina, who they beat in the semifinal round. If Brazil withdraws, their spot would more than likely go to Paraguay, who they beat in the semifinals. If Argentina and Paraguay both choose not to go, here's the descending order of teams that would be chosen: 1. Chile (won the fifth-place match) 2. Venezuela (lost the fifth-place match) 3. Ecuador (both Ecuador and Uruguay finished 1-3 in their respective groups, but Ecuador finished +2 in goal difference to Uruguay's -3)  4. Uruguay, on the strength of their 1 win to Bolivia and Peru's 0 wins) 5. Bolivia (yielded two fewer goals- 16 v. 18- and scored once compared to Peru's 0- both teams finished ...

There's the potential for a boycott of the Paris 2024 games if Russian and Belarussian athletes are allowed to qualify (which, if my change.org petition is anything to go by, I don't think they should be allowed). In this and subsequent posts, I'll go through various qualifiers to see what would happen if Olympic boycotts go into effect, starting with the qualified CONCACAF teams in men's soccer.  *This follows the Tokyo '20('21) super heavyweight boxing from the Asia/Oceania qualifiers, where if someone withdraws their spot goes to the person they beat. UNITED STATES (First Semifinal Winner) Who would get their spot? IF THEY WITHDRAW: Honduras (we beat them in the semifinals) IF HONDURAS WITHDRAWS: Panama (Honduras beat them in the quarterfinals)  IF PANAMA WITHDRAWS: Cuba (Panama beat them in the round of 16)  DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (Second Semifinal Winner) Who would get their spot? IF THEY WITHDRAW: Guatemala (DR beat them in the semifinals) IF GUATEMALA WITHDRA...

Which team has the better defense?  Croatia v. Denmark Croatia: 10 Denmark: 6 Predicted Winner: Denmark (four fewer goals yielded) Slovakia v. Ukraine Slovakia: 10  Ukraine: 11  Predicted Winner: Slovakia (one fewer goal yielded) Ireland v. Israel Ireland: 10  Israel: 10 Iceland v. Czech Republic Iceland: 7 Czech Republic: 6 Predicted Winner: Czech Republic (one fewer goal yielded)  

Learning more from a loss then from a win Croatia v. Denmark Croatia: 2 Denmark: 1 Predicted Winner: Croatia (1 more loss) Croatia is also the predicted winner in goals scored and goal differential  Slovakia v. Ukraine Slovakia: 3 Ukraine: 1 Predicted Winner: Slovakia (2 more losses)   This is where things get interesting because Ukraine is the predicted winner in both goals scored and goal differential  Ireland v. Israel Ireland: 3 Israel: 3 Iceland v. Czech Republic   Iceland: 2 Czech Republic: 2

Playoffs will take place next month  Croatia v. Denmark Croatia: 25 Scored, 10 Yielded (+15) Denmark: 12 Scored, 6 Yielded (+6) Predicted Winner: Croatia (13 more goals and +9 in goal difference) Slovakia v. Ukraine Slovakia: 18 Scored, 10 Yielded (+8) Ukraine: 20 Scored, 11 Yielded (+9)  Predicted Winner: Ukraine (2 more goals and +1 in goal difference) Ireland v. Israel Ireland: 16 Scored, 10 Yielded (+6) Israel: 19 Scored, 10 Yielded (+9)  Predicted Winner: Israel (3 more goals and +3 in goal difference)   Iceland v. Czech Republic Iceland: 25 Scored, 7 Yielded (+18) Czech Republic: 23 Scored, 6 Yielded (+17) Predicted Winner: Iceland (2 more goals and +1 in goal difference)  

Field Hockey September will see the Asia Games field hockey tournaments, with twelve men's teams and twelve women's teams vying for one spot each in Paris. Next month will see the qualifier tournaments for the EuroHockey Championships, which will be the first step towards determining the Europe continental spots- one each for men and women.  Men's Basketball If we're assuming the FIBA World Cup next year will once again be an Olympic qualifier, the second round of continental qualification will be next month. Several dozen teams remain in contention.  Women's Soccer Colombia has earned one of two CONMEBOL spots in the tournament with a 1-0 win over Argentina. This will be their third Olympic tournament after London and Rio, which is second-most among South America teams after Brazil.  Brazil defeated Paraguay 2-0 in the second semifinal and have made it eight appearances in eight Olympic tournaments.  The Europe spots will be determined by next year's World Cup,...

1. With their 1-0 win over Canada in the CONCACAF W Championship final, the United States has booked a place in the Paris 2024 tournament, marking the eighth time in as many tournaments that they will be playing in the Olympics. 2. September of next year will see Canada and Jamaica face off for the second CONCACAF spot in the field. Canada can advance to their fifth Olympic tournament while Jamaica can make their first.  3. The CONMEBOL qualifiers will be decided with the Copa America Feminina semifinals, as the semifinal winners will head to Paris. Paraguay will be looking for their first Olympic women's soccer spot, Argentina will be looking for their second appearance, Colombia will be looking for their third and Brazil will be looking to make it eight appearances in eight Olympic tournaments dating back to Atlanta '96.