Alexis Mac Allister got his preparations for the Tokyo Olympics off to good start with a fine strike in a 2-2 draw for Argentina against South Korea.
The 22-year-old put his side in the lead in Seoul after 12 minutes with a thumping effort from the edge of the box, before the hosts drew level through Lee Dong-gyeong.
Fernando Valenzuela restored Argentina’s lead, but Um Won-sang was on hand to ensure that it finished level.
And here it is, the 2021/22 away kit! 😍
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Mac Allister has high hopes for the tournament and cannot wait for the opportunity to represent his country at an Olympics.
“It’s one of my dreams and that’s why I am really grateful to Brighton because they understood what I wanted, that it’s very important to me to be involved with the national team and the Olympic Games. I am looking forward to playing,” he said.
“It’s a big deal in Argentina. The World Cup is the most important competition, but after that the Olympic Games is right up there. We are training every day to reach our best level because we know it’s going to be really tough.
“We have really good teams in our group – Australia, Egypt and Spain. We know that we have to be at a good level to get out of that group.
“We have to focus on what’s in front of us but we have good players. We have to go step-by-step to reach the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and then the final hopefully.”
The midfielder will be hoping to build on Argentina’s Copa America final win on Sunday against Brazil, which secured Lionel Messi’s first piece of silverware at senior level for his country.
“We had to get up at 7am to watch the match,” Mac Allister laughed. “It was a great achievement for the country and most of all for Lionel Messi. He deserves a cup for the things he has done for Argentina and we’re really happy for him.
“Argentina have been to many finals and he has been on the losing side, so he deserves something as he has done a lot for us.”
Mac Allister is not Albion’s only player preparing for the Games.
Inessa Kaagman has linked up with the Dutch squad for the tournament, having finished last season as Albion’s top scorer in the WSL, while Tudor Baluta is in Romania's squad.