Argentina's rivals hope Barcelona appeal will end Messi's Olympic dreams

The Barcelona forward was training with his Argentina teammates today in Shanghai, ahead of the start of the Olympic football tournament on Thursday, 24 hours before the formal Opening Ceremony in Beijing.

But Messi and other European-based stars could still be dropped from the tournament if the Court of Arbitration for Sport rules in favour of Barcelona, Werder Bremen and FC Schalke. The clubs want to keep their young players at home despite a FIFA rule that says any player under 23 can be called up to compete at the Olympics.

Lionel Messi, the Barcelona and Argentina forward, will find out whether he is allowed to play for his country at the Beijing Olympics

Some of Argentina's group opponents, however, wouldn't mind seeing the 21-year-old Messi on the plane back to Spain.

Star-studded Argentina faces Ivory Coast, Australia and Serbia in the first round of the Beijing Games. The Ivorians play the defending champions from South America on Thursday.

The coaches of Australia and Serbia today admitted their own teams would have a better chance if Messi went home.

'We have to play whatever they put in front of us. Of course, if they miss Lionel Messi it would be better for us,' Australia coach Graham Arnold said.

'But the quality of their squad and the players they have, they have a ready-made superstar replacement in his own right probably playing in Europe somewhere.'

Arnold, though, sympathises with Argentina coach Sergio Batista and believes that Messi should be available to play in the competition. 'He's under 23, he should be here,' Arnold said. 'They are the FIFA rules as I see them. It must be a very difficult situation for the Argentina coach, not knowing whether he has got him or he hasn't.'

The Olyroos are due to play Argentina on Sunday.

Serbia coach Miroslav Djukic, whose team meets Argentina in Beijing on August 13, would prefer that Messi showed his greatness playing for Barcelona instead of Argentina.

'It would be great if he were to play big performances for Barcelona and not for Argentina,' Djukic said.

Werder Bremen joined the Barcelona appeal to CAS as they try to keep Diego from playing at the Olympics, while Schalke is hoping to stop Rafinha from taking part. Both Diego and Rafinha play for Brazil.

Argentina, who also has talented playmaker Juan Riquelme in the squad, are favourites for the gold medals, along with Brazil, who have never won the Olympic football title.

The final is set for the Olympic Stadium in Beijing on August 23.