Looking on in dismay as coach Marcelo Bielsa and his players hung their heads in shock, unable to comprehend their desperately unlucky Copa America Final defeat to Brazil, Argentinian Football Association (AFA) President Julio Grondona spoke of "the most terrible experience" of his life. Fair play, the association chief then added: "But it's exactly the kind of ending which makes football so interesting."

Just a few weeks after the traumatic South American tournament, the Olympic Games present Argentina with an ideal chance to heal the gaping sore left by the Copa defeat. Bielsa and his players are desperate to make amends: "This is a vital tournament for Argentinian football," the 49 year-old declared. In their sixth Olympic appearance, the South Americans have been grouped with Serbia and Montenegro, Tunisia and Australia. "I'm sure most people will rate us favourites, but it's what happens on the field that counts," the coach insisted.

Serbia and Montenegro could prove a stern test in the opening match on 11 August in Patras. "I reckon they're our toughest rivals in the group," Bielsa said  of the side which pulled off a surprise run to the Final of the U-21 European Championship in Germany a few months ago.

In search of debut Olympic gold

A flying start in Greece should help dull the pain of Peru. Most of the Olympic squad took part in the Copa America, including the three permitted over-age players (23 plus) - Roberto Ayala of Valencia, Manchester United's Gabriel Heinze and Cristian 'Killy' González of Inter Milan. Pablo Aimar is a notable absentee after failing to recover from injury in time, although the player has kept his suitcase packed just in case. "I'm not giving up hope of perhaps still getting a phone-call, right up until the first game kicks off," he insisted.

The Olympics have proved an unhappy hunting ground for the Argentinians in the past. They did claim the 1996 silver medal in Atlanta but the 3-2 defeat to Nigeria in the Final was heartbreaking as the Africans' winner came in the last minute. Argentina failed to qualify for Sydney four years later, but this time around the South Americans are determined to seal the top prize. Declared Luiz González, the River Plate midfielder who excelled at the Copa America: "Olympic Gold would mean a lot more than revenge for the Copa, it would write us into Argentine football history. I have plenty of dreams and I'm just happy to be on my way to Greece. I believe in this team. We're going there to win."

The squad has been based at home since early August to prepare for the Olympic Football Tournament. Those preparations included a competitive friendly in Buenos Aires. The coaching staff paid close attention to the squad's fitness, taking care not to over-stretch the players after the rigours of the Copa America.

Decimated Serbia and Montenegro squad

The perennial battle between club and country has taken its toll on Serbia and Montenegro, and as a result the East Europeans travel to Greece shorn of a number of key players. Declared coach Vladimir Petrovic, who led his side to the U-21 European Championship runners-up spot: "The Olympic Games have come at just the wrong time for us as many of our players have already reported for duty with clubs in leagues around Europe. I'm in a very difficult position as I just can't send out my best team."

In their first appearance at the Olympics as an independent nation, Serbia and Montenegro are without Danko Lazovic of Feyenoord, Spartak Moscow defender  Nemanja Vidic and Olympiakos Piraeus midfielder Milos Maric, who shot to prominence at the European Championship and scored his country's late equaliser against Sweden at the semi-final stage. A number of Red Star Belgrade players have also pulled out, including keeper Vladimir Disljenkovic, midfielder Marko Perovic, defender Dusan Basta and striker Nikola Zigic, who are all required for their club's Champions League qualifying campaign.

"Argentina are clear favourites in our group. We're in a battle for second with Australia and Tunisia," Petrovic told news agency AP.

Nonetheless, the 18-strong squad features 10 players who took part in the 3-0 U-21 European Championship Final defeat against Italy, including 23-year-old star striker Andrija Delibasic of RCD Mallorca. The remainder are best described as squad players at club level, but the special atmosphere of the Olympic Games is a proven motivator and the up-and-coming youngsters will do their best to upset runaway favourites Argentina.