In London the silver-medalists were dominated by European-based players whereas this time around there is more of a local feel for Neymar and co.

Five-time world champions, home of Pele, Garrincha, Zico, Romario, Ronaldo, the Olympics remains the one title for which the Selecao are eligible that they are still yet to win.

They have tried, tried and tried again. But to no avail.

The most recent attempt arrived four years ago, in London.

A squad packed full of stars and featuring an exciting new generation led by a teenage Neymar, they looked odds-on throughout the tournament but eventually fell at the last hurdle, going down 2-1 to Mexico in the final.

As well as Neymar, that side featured Marcelo, Thiago Silva, Danilo, Ganso, Oscar and Hulk, and was led by an exciting and contemporary coach in Mano Menezes.

This time around Brazil are hoping another new generation will go one better, and the 18-man squad for Rio 2016 has some key differences to the group that travelled to England four years ago.


In Thiago Silva, Mano Menezes opted for an experienced central defender as one of his three permitted overage players.

Current coach Rogério Micale has preferred to opt for experience in goal by including 38-year-old Fernando Prass.

Mano also took a full-back in Marcelo and an attacker in Hulk, Micale has gone for a central midfielder in Renato Augusto.

Neymar has filled the third and final overage slot.


Team that started the final against Mexico in London:

Likely lineup for Rio 2016:

Another curious difference is that the 2012 the Olympic Team had 11 European-based players whereas this year there are only 4, while Renato Augusto is currently playing his football in China.


2012 also saw established full-backs in the squad with Alex Sandro, Rafael, and Danilo joining Marcelo.


The class of 2016 has Douglas Santos, Zeca and Willian, all of whom play their football at home and are yet to carve out reputations abroad.

At the heart of the defence, there is no leading defender such as Thiago Silva present, with Luan, Rodrigo Caio and even Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos far from establishing themselves as major players at international level.

Menezes also took just two holding midfielders to London, in Sandro and Romulo, while Lucas Moura, Ganso and Oscar added the attacking verve.


2016 will see home-based, emerging talents Walace, Thiago Maia and Rodrigo Dourado protect the back-four.

Menezes had a formidable front-line in Leandro Damiao (who finished the tournament’s top-scorer), flanked by Neymar and Hulk, with Alexandre Pato in reserve.

In Rio Brazil will line up with what is looking like one of the most exciting attacking trio’s at any level of the game, with Gabriels Jesus and Barbosa supported by Neymar.
This time around, at home, with a core group of local players who know both the stadiums and the fans, the Selecao appear to have everything they need to end their long wait to gold.

Brazil have been drawn in Group A of the Olympic Games football tournament in Rio and open their campaign against South Africa in Brasilia on August 4 before meeting Iraq and Denmark.