In a couple weeks’ time, Alanna Kennedy, Mary Fowler, Yui Hasegawa and Laia Aleixandri will compete for the chance to win an Olympic gold medal with their respective nations.
But in 2016, five former Blues did the same, with two of them picking up a podium finish.
Ahead of this year’s prestigious competition, we take a look at each player who took to the international stage in Rio…
KOSOVARE ASLLANI
Aged 27 at the time, Kosovare Asllani received her second Olympic call-up with Sweden.
Their first game of the competition saw them overcome South Africa 1-0 courtesy of a Nilla Fischer strike. It was the perfect start to the Olympics for Sweden and Asllani as she played the entirety of the match.
Their second game, however, was a tough one to take. A 5-1 thumping from Brazil left Sweden needing to regroup.
A win over China would confirm a top-two finish for Sweden and a place in the knockouts. But even as a substitute in the 62nd minute, Asllani couldn’t help her nation break the deadlock as they saw out a 0-0 draw.
But, Sweden did still qualify as the second-best third-placed team.
In the quarter-finals they faced international giants USA. They were resolute and took the game to penalties. Asllani played the entirety of the game and dispatched her spot kick to help Sweden win 4-3 in the shoot-out and advance to the semi-finals.
Back for redemption. Sweden faced their former Group E opponent Brazil. And after a goalless 120 minutes, another penalty shoot-out awaited Sweden.
Despite Asllani failing to score her penalty, her nation won 4-3 and secured their place in the final.
Germany took a two-goal lead and unfortunately, Stina Blackstenius’s goal was not enough to help Sweden back into the game as they fell to a 2-1 defeat. But a silver medal and awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award, what a tournament Sweden and Asllani had!
ALANNA KENNEDY
Alanna Kennedy is one of Australia’s longest-standing veterans. Aged 21 when she received the call-up for the 2016 Olympics, she had quickly become an important figure in her nation’s defensive line.
But, a tough Group F awaited. Playing with 10 players from the 19th minute, Canada were able to pull off a 2-0 win that Kennedy played every minute of.
A difficult 2-2 draw to Germany followed but the single point against one of Europe’s best teams would later help Australia through to the knockouts.
Kennedy would go on to play every minute of the group stages as Australis pulled off a phenomenal 6-1 triumph over Zimbabwe. The defender scored her first Olympic goal on 37 minutes, Australia’s third, as their confidence was restored.
Despite holding strong against Brazil for 90 minutes plus extra-time, Australia couldn’t quite get through to the semi-finals. Their seventh penalty, taken by Kennedy, was saved by Barbara to send Brazil through.
JANINE BECKIE
Former City forward Janine Beckie was also 21 years old when she went on to represent Canada at the 2016 Olympics.
And it took her just one minute to announce herself on one of the biggest stages. She scored Canada’s first in their 2-0 win over Australia.
And she continued her form in front of goal in their 3-1 triumph over Zimbabwe. Beckie’s first-half brace was separated by a Christine Sinclair penalty as she looked to be one of the most exciting players of the tournament.
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A narrow 2-1 win over Germany saw Canada top the group as the only team to win all three fixtures. Beckie had earned herself a rest ahead of the knockout stages.
In the quarter-finals, Beckie played the entirety of Canada’s intense 1-0 win over France.
But, a 2-0 defeat to eventual winners Germany meant Canada would take on Brazil on the bronze medal match.
After a 2-1 win over Brazil, Beckie and Canada claimed their Olympic bronze medals.
BETSY HASSETT
One of Manchester City Women’s first players, Betsy Hassett, totalled just over 20 appearances for the Club in 2014.
Two years later, the attacking midfielder was called up to represent New Zealand at the Olympics.
Aged 25 in 2016, New Zealand were in a difficult group with USA, France and Colombia.
Their first game, against World Cup serial winners USA, Hassett played the full 90 minutes of her nation’s 2-0 defeat.
Determined to get some points on the board, New Zealand were able to grind out a 1-0 win against Colombia in their second group game with Hassett a reliable figure in her nation’s attacks.
A point in their final game, against France, could have seen New Zealand progress to the knockouts but a 3-0 defeat saw their Olympic journey come to an end.
CARLI LLOYD
The final City star, past or present, to have featured at the 2016 Olympics is Carli Lloyd.
An iconic name, Lloyd played for City in 2017 on loan. And it comes as no surprise that the then 34-year-old captained her national team and led by example.
She scored their first goal in the 2-0 win over New Zealand before scoring the decisive goal in the USA’s 1-0 win over France.
A 2-2 draw to Colombia saw Lloyd and her national team top the group.
But the USA’s Olympic journey came to, arguably, an abrupt end when the States lost 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw after extra-time.
Lloyed dispatched her penalty but misses from the spot by Alex Morgan and Christen Press saw then knocked out of the competition.
