Olympic football group guide
Posted Monday, July 09, 2012 by The Sun
GOLDEN GUYS ... Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero proudly show off their winner's medals from 2008
GROUP A
GREAT BRITAIN
MANAGER: Stuart Pearce. Has already caused a storm by leaving out David Beckham.
SQUAD: Pearce has selected 13 past and present England Under-21s and five Welshmen.
STAR MAN: Ryan Giggs. Welsh legend will be skipper in his first major international tournament.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: Won gold in 1908 and 1912 but not had an Olympic team since 1960.
MEDALS CHANCES (out of five): 5
SENEGAL
MANAGER: Karim Sega Diouf. Parachuted in Roy Hodgson-style after Abdoulaye Sarr was axed.
SQUAD: Several European-based players but Newcastle denied Papiss Cisse permission to play.
STAR MAN: Magaye Gueye. The Everton man is a shock pick after playing for France at youth level.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: Qualified for Games debut by beating Oman 2-0 in a play-off at Coventry.
MEDALS CHANCES: 5
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
MANAGER: Mahdi Ali. Led this group of players to the last eight at the 2009 Under-20 World Cup.
SQUAD: Most of Ali’s squad play for clubs in the fast-growing UAE Pro League.
STAR MAN: Ahmed Khalil. The Al-Ahli striker was top scorer at the 2010 Gulf Cup of Nations.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: Another nation competing at its first Olympic football tournament.
MEDALS CHANCES: 1
URUGUAY
MANAGER: Oscar Tabarez. Having the national team boss in charge sends out a strong message.
SQUAD: Their provisional 32-man squad includes stars from across Europe and South America.
STAR MAN: Luis Suarez. The Reds striker is a candidate to be one of the over-age players.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: Won gold in Paris in 1924 and Amsterdam in 1928 — their last appearance.
MEDALS CHANCES: 4
GROUP B
MEXICO
MANAGER: Luis Fernando Tena. Also Under-23 boss and assistant manager of the national team.
SQUAD: Warmed up for Games by winning the Toulon Under-23 tournament last month.
STAR MAN: Marco Fabian. The Guadalajara playmaker has an eye for goal.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: This will be their 10th Games. They reached the semi-finals in 1964.
MEDALS CHANCES: 4
SOUTH KOREA
MANAGER: Hong Myung-Bo. Won 136 caps and was in Pele’s list of 125 Greatest Living Footballers.
SQUAD: Made up of players who reached the Under-20 World Cup quarter-finals in 2009.
STAR MAN: Park Chu-Young. Arsenal fans can catch a rare glimpse of their flop striker.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: They are Olympic veterans — this will be their eighth straight appearance.
MEDALS CHANCES: 2
GABON
MANAGER: Claude Albert Mbourounot. Ex-national team boss took Under-23 job last year.
SQUAD: Nearly half the players were in the squad that made the African Nations Cup last eight.
STAR MAN: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Saint Etienne ace is one of three over-age picks.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: Making their Games debut after shocking Morocco in qualifying.
MEDALS CHANCES: 3
SWITZERLAND
MANAGER: Pierluigi Tami. The assistant to Swiss national team boss Ottmar Hitzfeld.
SQUAD: Former West Ham star Valon Behrami is one of the three over-age picks.
STAR MAN: Admir Mehmedi. The Dynamo Kiev striker hit three goals at Euro Under-21 Finals.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: Won silver in 1924, although this is their first Games since 1928.
MEDALS CHANCES 2
GROUP C
BRAZIL
MANAGER: Mano Menezes. Has the job of winning gold in what Brazilians call Projeto Londres.
SQUAD: Chelsea target Hulk is an over-age player, along with Thiago Silva and Marcelo.
STAR MAN: Neymar. Santos star is widely tipped to be the next Samba soccer sensation.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: In 11 Games, Brazil have surprisingly never won the gold medal.
MEDALS CHANCES: 5
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