The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are right around the corner, with the football beginning the festivities tomorrow, two days before the Opening Ceremony on Friday.
Players from the EFL are represented across all the nations and groups competing, with a few more former players also gracing the fields of France.
Sixteen teams will travel to compete for the gold, silver and bronze medals with the final taking place at Paris Saint-Germain’s iconic Parc De Princes stadium on the 9th of August, the same day the domestic season opens when Blackburn Rovers play Derby County alongside three other fixtures.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the six players representing the EFL in France this summer.
Junior Firpo
Probably the biggest name to be playing from the Championship is Leeds United‘s Junior Firpo. The full-back takes up one of the Dominican Republic’s three over-23 spots in their squad and will wear the number three shirt.
He has been under much transfer speculation this summer, with rumours suggesting the 27-year-old will depart Elland Road. Spanish side Real Betis has been one of the names mooted for a deal, which would see Firpo return to the country following leaving Barcelona for Yorkshire in 2021.
Doubts had initially been thrown about the defender’s involvement in the squad for the Olympics, with fellow White Mateo Joseph having been blocked from representing Spain at the tournament, and similar claims were made about Firpo. It however seems that he is still named in the final squad for the Dominican Republic.
Anthony Nunez
Compatriot and Mansfield Town goalkeeper Anthony Nunez will be alongside Firpo at the games, but will be unlikely to see any action in the games. The 18-year-old is on the reserves list, meaning he will only be enabled to play should an injury hit one of the senior goalkeepers. He was named on the bench and made a second-half appearance for their pre-Olympics warm-up game against France, which Les Bleus ended up winning 7-0.
Los Quisqueyanos will play in Group C alongside Spain, Egypt and Uzbekistan, with their opening match coming up against Egypt in Nantes tomorrow at 16:00 BST.
Yu Hirakawa
Bristol City‘s new signing will feature for Japan at the tournament after arriving at Ashton Gate this summer. He had linked up with Liam Manning’s side in their Portuguese pre-season training camp but is heading to join his national side for their fixtures.
The 23-year-old joined on loan from J. League leaders Machida Zelvia on a season-long loan. Japan are in Group D alongside Mali, Israel and Paraguay, with their first game against the South American side in Bordeaux.
Brahima Diarra
21-year-old Diarra will play for Mali in France, having recently left Huddersfield Town after his contract expired. He came through the academy at The Terriers and also had a loan spell with Harrogate Town in 2022. He featured 23 times last season as Huddersfield were relegated to the third tier.
West Bromwich Albion have previously been linked with the midfielder, with Belgian outlet Sudinfo reporting The Baggies were eyeing up a deal for the player after refusing a new deal in Kirklees. Diarra will also play in Group D, with the African nation’s opening game against Israel tomorrow at 8 pm in Paris.
Tyler Bindon
The Reading defender was a regular starter for Ruben Selles’ side last season, playing 44 times in his debut season in senior football. He scored twice, against Lincoln City and Leyton Orient, and will now represent New Zealand in the Olympics. The team will be coached by former Walsall and Watford winger Darren Bazeley.
His mother played for the Ferns at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, with her best placing in the quarter-finals of the latter games. Bindon changed allegiance to his current country from the USA, who he will face in the group stages this summer. The centre-back arrived in Berkshire last year from the academy of MLS side LAFC on a two-year-deal.
Ben Waine
Plymouth Argyle forward Waine has featured 16 times for the senior New Zealand team, and will join Bindon at the tournament. It will be his second appearance at an Olympics after playing at Tokyo 2020, where he starred alongside then-Burnley forward Chris Wood. the 23-year-old was the top scorer in OFC qualifying for the games in Japan having netted eight times, including one in the final.
Waine moved to Devon from Wellington Phoenix and was part of the Pilgrims squad that won League One in 2022/23. He made 20 Championship appearances last season, scoring twice. He also played a part in New Zealand’s OFC Nations League victory, netting a brace in the semi-final against Tahiti.
Group A awaits the Kiwis, with games against France, Guinea and the United States ahead of them. Their opening game is against Guinea in Nice, with kick-off at 4pm tomorrow.
Football journalist with The Real EFL since 2023. A 2024 Multimedia Journalism graduate from the University of Salford, Lewis specialises in Salford City FC and EFL coverage.
