The start of the South American Olympic qualification for 2024 is imminent. This tournament will see Conmebol's 10 teams compete for their place at the 2024 Olympics, including tournament hosts Venezuela. The U23 Vinotinto team, led by Ricardo Valiño, has several goals in the competition, in addition to qualifying for Paris. One of these is to develop its young talents so that they can get a place in the senior national team.
From selected teams that took part in the Vinotinto campaign at the 2023 U-17 World Cup, as well as others involved in European football, the Llanera squad has a promising squad. In the note below, we list the Venezuelan pledges that you should keep an eye on in this competition.
Vinotinto under 23: These are the youth players to watch closely in the pre-Olympics
Venezuela's undisputed number at the U-17 World Cup will have another opportunity to demonstrate all his quality on the pitch. The right winger was a name that could not be missing from Ricardo Valiño's nomination, so he is expected to start in most of the games that the young Vinotinto will face.
One of the young people who gives Llanera fans the most hope is Kevin Kelsy. The Shakhtar Donetsk attacker made a big splash last year when he debuted in the Champions League as the Ukrainian side's top scorer and his call-up to Fernando Batista's side is expected to be a matter of time. He will currently lead the U-23 team on their way to Olympic qualification.
Completing the attacking trident is this young up-and-coming player who was trained at La Masía, FC Barcelona's famous academy. Lacava, a current player in Portuguese football, is also one of the talents already under the senior team's radar for the next international matches, so there is an opportunity to make a splash in this pre-Olympic game.
Other names to consider in the Venezuela squad include: Telasco Segovia, Jose Riasco j Alex Custodiowho, despite being part of the Peruvian U-17, decided to play for Vinotinto's youth team.
On the other hand, the big missing from this set is that of Jon Aramburuwho was already selected by Fernando Batista in the first qualifying rounds but will not be part of the U23 team as he has not received approval from Real Sociedad of Spain.
Vinotinto Sub-23 call: who was called by Ricardo Valiño?
Next we present you the list of 23 players who will represent the Vinotinto jersey at the 2024 South American Pre-Olympics to be held at home:
- Frankarlos Benitez (Caracas FC)
- Samuel Rodriguez (Burgos Promesas)
- Pedro Fulco (Puerto Cabello Academy)
- Rafael Uzcategui (Boyaca Chico)
- Carlos Vivas (Deportivo Tachira)
- Alex Custodio (Deportivo La Guaira)
- Andrés Ferro (Central Cordoba)
- Jesus Quintero (Deportivo Pasto)
- Renne Rivas (Caracas FC)
- Bianneider Tamayo (Caracas FC)
- Jesús Paz (Chrobry Glogow)
- Matias Lacava (Vizela)
- Bryant Ortega (Caracas FC)
- Emerson Ruiz (Metropolitan)
- Anderson Contreras (Caracas FC)
- David Martinez (Monagas FC)
- Carlos Faya (Navalcarnero)
- Telasco Segovia (Casa Pia)
- Jovanny Bolivar (SD Huesca)
- Kevin Kelsy (Shakhtar Donetsk)
- Bryan Castillo (athlete)
- Luifer Hernandez (Puerto Cabello Academy)
- Joseph Riasco (Philadelphia Union).
This is Ricardo Valiño's squad list for the Pre-Olympics. Photo: La Vinotinto
Check out the Venezuela 2024 Pre-Olympics calendar
The Venezuelan team will be part of Group A along with Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia. Here we show you the Vinotinto U23 game schedule:
- Venezuela vs. Bolivia – 01/20/24 (Caracas)
- Venezuela vs. Ecuador – 01/23/24 (Caracas)
- Venezuela vs. Colombia – 01/29/24 (Caracas)
- Venezuela vs. Brazil – 02/01/24 (Caracas).
The first two in the group qualify for the final phase. Photo: La Vinotinto
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