By David Gold
March 2 – Flamengo star Ronaldinho (pictured) has reiterated his desire to play for Brazil at the London 2012 Olympic Games and add to the bronze medal he won in Beijing in 2008.
The 31-year-old playmaker was one of few older figures in a strong looking squad taking on Bosnia in St Gallen, Switzerland, on Tuesday (February 28), which the Selecão won 2-1.
Ronaldinho is believed to be among the final team that could make the trip to London later this year as Brazil looks for its first ever Olympic football gold medal.
“It is a big competition,” Ronaldinho told Brazilian sportspaper Globo Esporte.
“We are motivated to be there, of course… I will do my best to play [at] the Olympics one more time.”
Ronaldinho was one of the three over 23 year-olds permitted to play in Beijing four years ago, and though his best days playing for Barcelona are long gone, he showed some of the old glimpses of brilliance that once made him the world’s best player during Flamengo’s failed title bid in the Brazilian championship last year.
One of the eight under-23 players in Switzerland for the game, Leandro Damião (pictured below, number nine), got a chance to impress against Bosnia, and indicated that the Olympics was in his sights too.
“The pressure of playing for the national team is always heavy,” said the Internacional forward.
“A game like this is important for further nominations and that is why I am very motivated.”
Coach Mano Menezes said in his pre-match press conference that the three over age players he will be taking to London were in Switzerland for the Bosnia friendly, indicating that his thoughts are on the Olympics already.
That means that Real Madrid star Kaka won’t be in London, having been dropped, but that Ronaldinho (pictured above, number ten) was in contention, along with the likes of Dani Alves (number two), David Luiz (number three) and Hulk, to go to the Olympics.
Looking ahead to the 2014 World Cup, which Brazil will host, Menezes said that “the basis of the selection will be the team that goes to the Olympics,” placing yet more pressure on the squad to impress in London this summer.
Meanwhile, Brazilian newspaper O Globo has revealed the new national team shirt for the Olympics this summer, a blue top which features a yellow strip around the collar and at the end of the shirt sleeves.
It also features the Brazilian flag in place of the Brazilian Football Confederation logo.
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