There may be over a year and a half to go before the start of the Olympic Football Tournament at Beijing 2008, but two genuine footballing heavyweights have already guaranteed their place in China. Brazil and Argentina are now free to dream of Olympic gold after they became the first names in the hat for next year's competition with first- and second-place finishes respectively at the  South American U-20 tournament . Unable to make home advantage count were host nation Paraguay, silver medallists at Athens 2004.

Also up for grabs on Paraguayan soil were places at this year's FIFA U-20 World Cup, although many of those defending Brazilian and Argentinian colours at Canada 2007 could well sit out the Olympic Football Tournament just one year later.   

Fans in Canada should see many of the same players who sealed qualification in the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion, but when China 2008 comes around, Brazil and Argentina are sure to cast their net wider to include some of the finest U-23 players in the world today. Who would not enjoy seeing Anderson, Marcelo, Alexandre Pato and Lucas join forces to try and become Brazil's first footballing gold medallists? For the 2004 winners, a front-pairing of the extravagantly gifted  Lionel Messi  and Atletico de Madrid's Sergio Aguero, backed up by explosive pace of  Gonzalo Higuain  and the sheer class of Fernando Gago, would give any defence sleepless nights. 

Going for gold
Both sides may have celebrated their qualification for China 2008 with equal vigour, but the tasks facing Brazil and Argentina are quite different. The newly crowned South American champions are making a welcome return to the Olympic stage after an eight-year absence, and are determined to bring home their first-ever football gold medal. In contrast, the Albicelestes head to Asia as the defending champions, having defeated Paraguay in the Final of Athens 2004.

After their impressive showing in qualifying, the Brazilian youngsters came away from Paraguay unbeaten and with a ninth continental title in the bag. They must now transfer their regional dominance onto the world stage. 

In the opinion of  Dunga , coach of Brazil's senior side, this should not be too much of a problem. "They have shown impressive maturity for their age," said the former international midfielder. "The impression you get from the outside is that they have formed a very tight-knit group with a great deal of character and are capable of giving football [fans] in our country plenty to cheer about."

That has to be good news for those Brazil supporters hoping to erase the memory of their last Olympic campaign, when the Canarinha bowed out in the quarter-finals at Sydney 2000. On that occasion, the South Americans' bid for a historic gold medal was ended by Cameroon, the eventual winners proving too strong for a young Ronaldinho and Co. 

Argentina defy the odds
Argentina meanwhile, under the guidance of coach Hugo Tocalli, were made to struggle all the way in the absence of a clutch of genuine big names. In fact, it took a headed goal from midfielder Lautaro Acosta deep into added time in their final match against neighbours Uruguay to snatch second place from the Charruas' grasp.

With no Messi, Aguero, Gago, Higuain or Mauro Zarate, Tocalli's young charges had to dig deep in a keenly contested final round of matches. In the end two narrow 1-0 wins and three draws proved sufficient - a record that the Albicelestes will surely improve on come 2008, particularly if their big names can be persuaded to defend the crown won four years ago by a Carlos Tevez-inspired Argentina side.

"From now on, those of us who are the right age to go to China can really start looking forward to taking part. I'd just joined the national team youth set-up when Argentina won the gold medal in Athens, so it would be incredible to be there defending the title next year," said Messi, from his home in Barcelona. 

Thus Brazil and Argentina, the two undisputed heavyweights of South American football, have their sights set on Beijing 2008. And although there is more than a year to go before the big event, there is every reason to be excited at the prospect of seeing them and their star-studded line-ups in action. China awaits them… but could the gold medal be too?

Final standings for the South American U-20 tournament held in January 2007 in Paraguay
Brazil (11 pts.)
Argentina (9 pts.)
Uruguay (7 pts.)
Chile (6 pts.)
Paraguay (6 pts.)
Colombia (1 pt.)