Olympics - Neymar Eyes Gold; Suarez Call-up; Giggs Captains GB
July 9, 2012
Neymar will be one of the star attractions at the Olympics men's football tournament(Getty)
(WFI) Santos player Neymar says five-time world champions Brazil will be going all out to win their first Olympic gold at this summer's London Games.
The 20-year-old, who was yesterday named in Mano Menezes’ 18-man squad for London 2012.
"It’s a dream for me to play not just in the World Cup but in the Olympics too, because you’re there with everyone else in the Olympic Village. You want to be there taking part, to be involved in it all, and as far as we’re concerned we want to bring the gold medal back for the very first time," he told FIFA.com.
"We’ve got everything we need to be champions. I think Brazil are always one of the favourites, no matter what the competition. It’s always been that way. We’ve got a very good side too, and players with a lot of potential.
Neymar denied that he was the most important player in the Brazil squad.
"Everyone’s important. The 18 players who were picked represent everyone who’s taken part up to here and we need to stick together and be strong," he added.
Brazil's first match is against Egypt on July 26 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Suarez in Uruguay Squad
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is confirmed as one of overage players in Uruguay's Olympic squad.
Coach Oscar Washington Tabarez also named Napoli striker Edinson Cavani and Palermo's Egidio Arevalo Rios as the other over-age players in the squad he announced on Monday.
Last year's Copa America winners line up in Group A alongside Great Britain, Senegal and the United Arab Emirates.
Uruguay take on the UAE in their opening game at Manchester's Old Trafford ground on July 26.
Giggs Gets Captain Role
Manchester United star Ryan Giggs will captain Team GB team at the Olympics.
For Giggs, the Olympics will mark his first appearance in an international tournament because Wales never managed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship during his glittering career.
The 38-year-old is one of Team GB’s three over-age players; fellow Welshman and Liverpool player Craig Bellamy and Manchester City's Micah Richards are the other over-age players named in coach
Giggs is one of Team GB’s three over-age players (Getty)
Stuart Pearce's squad.
"Obviously I have experience and I can pass that on," Giggs was quoted on United's website.
"Obviously it is a tremendous honour to be part of the Olympics. Stuart has given me the captaincy, which is even better so I am really looking forward to it.
"It is a unique experience and one from the start that I wanted to be part of when I got the opportunity. I think it just got more and more exciting as the Games got nearer and then when the squads were announced I was obviously really, really proud to be involved."
Great Britain play Brazil in an Olympics warm-up on July 20. Their first game at London 2012 is against Senegal at Old Trafford on July 26.
By INSIDER editor Mark Bisson
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