Brazil Olympic Team
Best Performance
Runners-up 1984, 88
Surprisingly, Brazil have never claimed gold at
the Olympics despite their level of success at international level down the
years.
Under the tutelage of legendary World Cup winning
captain of 1994, Dunga, engaging in his first managerial position, helped
Brazil achieve 3rd place at Beijing in 2008. Thiago Silva, Marcelo
and Alexandre Pato are the only Olympic survivors from that squad, with the
hope of going one better and reaching the final this time round and winning
gold in the yellow and green of Brazil. Back home, nothing but success will do.
I tip them to deliver.
Fifa World Ranking
11th
Brazil’s worst showing in the FIFA world rankings
for a decade, they will definitely feel they have a point to prove and hope to
emulate the successes of previous cyclical regimes in the national team. Many
of the players picked in Mano Menezes’ Olympic team will have one eye on the
World Cup to be staged on home ground in Brazil in 2014.
Manager
Mano Menezes - Mano turned 50 in June of this year, an
experienced coach domestically in Brazil having been at the helm at Gremio and
Corinthians prior to taking the reigns of the national side, replacing the
outgoing Dunga after the 2010 World Cup. His tenure at both native Brazilian
clubs were successful ones. He is now tasked with taking Brazil sides first to
the Olympics before embarking on the FIFA Confederations Cup next year, a
trophy which Brazil has won a record three times, first in 1997, before again
winning in 2005 and retaining in 2009. The next marker on Mano Menezes’
calendar will be the FIFA World Cup held in Brazil. Only time will tell whether
home advantage will prove extra motivation or a hindrance. Brazil are the only
national team to have played in every world cup, winning the coverted trophy
five times, doing so on four continents; once in Europe (1958 Sweden),
once in South America (1962 Chile), twice in
North America (1970 Mexico and 1994 USA) and once in Asia (2002
Korea/Japan).
No pressure then.
Over-Age Players
Thiago Silva (Captain), 27 - The national teams current
captain and thus reprising his role in the Olympics. An influential player,
solid in defense, he was also captain of club side AC Milan prior to his big
money move to French side P.S.G. this summer. Thiago has previous experience in
this tournament, achieving a 3rd place finish in Beijing 2008.
Marcelo, 24 - Touted by many as a potential successor for
Roberto Carlos’ mantle, shares two professional traits with the legendary left
back, by playing for the national team but also for the club side Carlos is
most famous for; Real Madrid. Marcelo has gone on to make more than 150 career
appearances for the Spanish giants based at the Santiago Bernabeu since signing
from Fluminense in 2007. Like Thiago Silva, Marcelo too achieved a bronze medal
in 2008.
Hulk, 25 - Hulk started out at Brazilian second division
side Vitoria, he emigrated to Japan, where he quickly became a prolific
goalscorer, catching the attention of Portuguese heavyweights Porto. Signing
for Porto in 2008, establishing himself in the first team by 2009. He has gone
on to score more than 50 senior goals for Porto in less than a hundred league
appearances.
Has been linked with a move away from the estadio
do dragao in recent times, with newly crowned UEFA Champions League winners
Chelsea rumoured to be after his signature.
He made his international debut in a friendly
against England in Doha on November 14th 2009. A constant threat,
his power and pace will trouble any defence, I expect him to be amongst the
goals when the Olympics begin at the end of the month, spearheading Brazils
attack with Neymar.
Key Player
Neymar, 20 - The young starlets name is on
everybody’s lips at the moment and has been since bursting onto the scene in
the Under 17 World Cup back in 2009. He has solidified his growing potential at
club side Santos, attaining a healthy goal return of one in every two games. He
has been described as a phenomenon, like a Pele by his native media. Pele himself
has openly praised Neymar, insisting he will become an all time great. I’m not
totally convinced as yet, however I do feel Brazil are in need of a Romario,
Ronaldo type of talismanic striker, a type of player the home fans romanticise
about. Its good for the game. At senior international level his goal haul
currently stands at nine goals in eighteen games. The likes of Barcelona and
Real Madrid have been speculated upon acquiring his services. His current deal
at Santos expires in 2014. He states he is happy at the moment, my guess is we
shall see in a year whether he is still contented at Santos, interest is high
and is sure to continue. With thoughts firmly on the immediate future, could
Neymar light up the Olympics?
|
Full Squad
|
|
No.
Position. Name. D.O.B. Caps.
Goals. Club
|
|
1 GK
Rafael
Cabral 20.05.90 (age
22) 3 0
|
|
18 GK
Neto 9.07.89 (age 23) 0 0
|
|
2 DF
Rafael da Silva 9.06.90 (age 22) 2
0
|
|
3 DF
Thiago Silva
(C) 22.09.84 (age 27) 28 1
|
|
13 DF
Bruno Uvini 3.06.91 (age 21) 3 0
|
|
4 DF
Juan Jesus 10.06.91 (age 21) 4 0
|
|
15 DF
Alex
Sandro 26.01.91
(age 21) 4 0
|
|
7 MF
Lucas Moura 13.08.92 (age 19)
15 1
|
|
|
|
17 FW
Alexandre
Pato 2.09.89 (age
22) 21 7
|
|
|
Group
Game Fixtures
Date Stage Venue Opponent
July 26, 2012
Group
C Millennium Stadium,
Cardiff
Egypt
July 29, 2012
Group
C Old Trafford, Manchester
Belarus
August 1, 2012 Group
C St James' Park,
Newcastle
New Zealand
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