Olympic football group guide
Posted Monday, July 09, 2012 by The Sun
STAR ON SHOW ... Neymar is playing for Brazil
EGYPT
MANAGER: Hani Ramzy. Was in the Egypt team beaten 1-0 by England at the 1990 World Cup.
SQUAD: The provisional 35-man squad includes TEN over-age players.
STAR MAN: Ahmed Hegazy. The centre-back cost Fiorentina more than £1m from Ismaily.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: The Pharoahs have yet to better fourth place in 12 previous Olympics.
MEDALS CHANCES: 2
BELARUS
MANAGER: Georgy Kondratyev. Ex-USSR international is also boss of the senior national side.
SQUAD: Illya Aleksiyevich, Dzmitry Baha and Uladzimir Khvashchynski are big names in Belarus.
STAR MAN: Alyaksandr Hutar. The keeper was Belarus’ player of the Year in 2011.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: First trip to a major tournament since the country was formed in 1991.
MEDALS CHANCES: 1
NEW ZEALAND
MANAGER: Neil Emblen. Former Millwall and Wolves midfielder moved to New Zealand in 2005.
SQUAD: Brits will know Ipswich defender Tommy Smith and West Brom striker Chris Wood.
STAR MAN: Ryan Nelsen. Defender, 34, joined QPR from Tottenham last month.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: Made their first appearance at the Games in Beijing four years ago.
MEDALS CHANCES: 2
GROUP D
SPAIN
MANAGER: Luis Milla. Led Spain’s Under-21s to Euro Championship glory last year.
SQUAD: An array of stars from Europe’s top clubs and possibly the odd Euro 2012 winner too.
STAR MAN: In a squad full of stars, Athletic Bilbao’s Ander Herrera is the one to watch.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: Winners in Barcelona in 1992 but failed to qualify for last two Games.
MEDALS CHANCES: 5
JAPAN
MANAGER: Takashi Sekizuka. Took charge two years ago after six years at Kawasaki Frontale.
SQUAD: Features five players with German clubs, including Nuremberg-bound Hiroshi Kiyotake.
STAR MAN: Takashi Usami. Top-rated attacking midfielder has just joined Hoffenheim on loan.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: Qualified for every tournament since 1996 and reached last eight in 2000.
MEDALS CHANCES: 2
HONDURAS
MANAGER: Luis Fernando Suarez. Managed Ecuador against England in 2006 World Cup finals.
SQUAD: Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa is the only Premier League player in the Honduras camp.
STAR MAN: Eddie Hernandez. Striker was his country’s joint-top scorer in qualifying.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: Third time at the Games, but lost all three group matches in Beijing.
MEDALS CHANCES: 1
MOROCCO
MANAGER: Peter Verbeek. Ex-Australia boss took charge of youth development in 2010.
SQUAD: Verbeek is loyal to his players, like Adnane Tighadouini of Dutch side Vitessee.
STAR MAN: Abdelaziz Barrada. Midfielder began his career with PSG now at Getafe in La Liga.
OLYMPIC HISTORY: Have failed to reach the knockout stages in six attempts including in Athens.
MEDALS CHANCES: 2
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