When you think of the Olympics football doesn’t necessarily come to mind and many British people will be looking forward to other events – rightly so – but don’t you dare assume that favourites Brazil are not itching to right the wrong of them having never won the gold medal in numerous attempts, having gained bronze and silver twice. One of those Bronze medals were gained four years ago in Beijing, where an Argentina side which contained Juan Ruqelme, Javier Mascherano, Pablo Zabaleta, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, final hero Angel Di Maria and Ezequiel Lavezzi were far too good for Brazil in the second half, beating them with ease in the end. The public had expected more but in hindsight few stood a chance against ta team with so much future talent and it’s very much Brazil in the hotseat this time around.
The most known player in the squad is Neymar (left), the Santos hotshot who is ranked by many as close, if not on the same level as Ronaldo and Messi, having helped Santos win the 2011 Copa Libertadores – South America’s Champions League - (coincidentally for the first time since 1963, when Pele led his club to glory – but that’s just the beginning. He is flanked by Leandrio Damiao, scorer of 6 goals in the Copa Libratores, and Chelsea target Hulk, scorer of 26 Leagiue goals for Porto in the last two seasons, having been underused by Brazil until now, while they themselves are supplied by one of the world’s best midfields.
New Chelsea signing Oscar scored a hat trick in the U20 World Cup final and had been impressing all onlookers with Interactional over the past two years, while Ganso will be looking to prove the hype behind him before his knee injury was indeed correct, with a move from Santos on the cards according to many before this summer. Manchester United have looked towards 19 year old Sao Paulo midfielder Lucas Moura as one of the key components in the bid to grab back their title next season. Sandro has played a key part in all that Spurs did well – and it was a lot - last season and the presence that he offers infront of the back four is an immense reassurance in this context, although Brazil hardly lack strength in depth in an area where they can call upon the World’s best centre back in PSG’s new signing Thiago Silva, while wig backs Macrcelo and Rafael offer a huge amount going forward in terms of delivery, even if there are some doubts about the latter going back on himself.
Such is the way things have turned out that Brazil are using the majority of the squad that they expect to represent them in 2 years’ time at the 2014 World Cup which they have been preparing for since 2007, and as such they have much the strongest squad at the completion though a mix of intense preparation and good fortune. With automatic qualification towards the World Cup, Brazil have few opportunities to play competitive football and these are the last competitive games Brazil will play before the tournament, barring the Confederations Cup next summer (in a shortened format), so a bold show is expected (if not having already been expected of them), and anything barring a defeat in the gold medal match against Spain would be seen as a massive disappointment. There’s a slight worry they’ve not won the medal before but prior to Argentina's 2008 retention, there had been four consecutive first-time winners, and Spain amongst others have shown us that talent can break any seeming “curse” in world football, so the 6/4 about them winning the tournament (a short price for many) is taken with relish, given that their route to the final looks to be clear, and while second favourites Spain would be a fierce contest, they have a side well capable of beating them, if not going into the game with “confidence”.
Should Brazil fail to land a maiden title at this level then someone has to pick up the pieces and another South American side make the most appeal in Uruguay.They’ve been supported down from quotes that initially were as big as 12-1 but still look worth having onside as a saver given the progress they’ve made of recent years.
Officially South American’s top team on FIFA Rankings after reaching the World Cup semi-finals and then winning the Copa America the year after, they’ve made an excellent start to the qualification campaign for 2014, lying just a point behind in second despite having played a game less than Chile at the top of the standings.
They qualified here through their runners up spot in the 2011 South American Youth Championships – won in style by Brazil – having struggled early on before finding their feet late and come second ahead of Argentina in the “final stage” of what is effectively a youth Copa America. That had followed a run towards the final of FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico, so their youth team – which is being looked to with as close to a home World Cup as they will get in just two years’ time given that they have a fairly ageing side by International standards – has experience of going through to the latter stages of tournaments, which is reassuring.
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| Leonardo Pais is one of many promising Uruguayan youth prospects |
They should we well capable of beating all of their Group B opponents – the UAE and Senegal provide an excellent platform for two wins out of two before taking on Britain, who they are well capable of beating hands down. Facing one of Mexico or Switzerland (the two I’m backing to make it out of Group B) will not be easy, but they have one of the best sides in the completion and I expect them to make it through to the semis at least and then get a medal, for which they are 11/8, a tempting price as it pays out on them reaching the final and/or winning the fourth place playoff, which you would strongly fancy them to do so if Brazil and Spain make the final. The odds on them for Bronze are 4/1 as well, and that too should be added to compensate for them being knocked out by Brazil in a possible semi. With the third best squad in the completion and one of the best managers there in Oscar Tabrez, there’s little not to like.
I realise that this means I’m opposing Spain from an outright view technically, and of course that’s a massive risk to take, but Uruguay are twice the price of them outright and I honestly do believe that Brazil have the team to beat them in a one off game, so while it’s a big risk it’s one I’m happy to take here in the knowledge that they can be followed throughought the group stages – where they should coast through – and the quarter finals, while I don’t see them getting any shorter unless one of the top two fail to fire early on.
Their squad – which will be described in more detail during the Group profiles – is richly talented and experienced at this level, and they will make the semis of the final without fail barring accidents, so I can’t put anyone off them despite feeling the two South Americans more.
Great Britain are just 13/1 to win with home advantage behind them but it’s hard to get truly behind them from a betting point of view with Stuart Pearce’s side having been thrown together at the last minute – this is their first tournament in 56 years – and while they should be able to get through their group, they lack depth in the squad to seriously contend with the big three and could be vulnerable to Switzerland or Mexico in the first knockout rounds, while all of England’s top players barring Micah Richards and Jack Butland are unavailable.
I expect Mexico and Switzerland to make it through Group B and both are interesting long term proposition, with slight preference for Mexico given that they have won the Toulon tournament already this summer and can count upon the services of Fabian, Giovani and Peralta at this games while several members bring experience with them. For a huge longshot, Egypt make the most appeal of the African nations. Turmoil after the Uprising of Mubarak stopped them from making the Cup of Nation but good past tournament form – they drew against Brazil in the U20 World Cup 2 years ago and were knocked out by Argentina – and they are worth supporting in the group stages after facing Brazil today.
Advice
6 pts Brazil (6/4 general)
1 pt Uruguay (7/1 general)
1 pt Uruguay Bronze Medal (4/1 Skybet)
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