By David Gold
March 15 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has released a list of 52 players, including Ronaldinho, Neymar and Dani Alves, longlisted to play for the country during the London 2012 Olympic Games men’s football tournament.
The list will be narrowed down to 35 at the start of June before the final list of 18 players coach Mano Menezes will take to London is confirmed on July 6.
With three exceptions, the squad must consist of players under the age of 23.
There are 16 players in contention for these three places with the leading contenders likely to be Barcelona’s Alves, Chelsea defender David Luiz (pictured above) and Thiago Silva of AC Milan.
Another contender is Ronaldinho, the two time World Player of the Year, 31, now back in his homeland enjoying a mini revival with Flamengo, after a glorious spell with Barcelona in the mid 2000s.
Santos’ wonderkid Neymar, 20, is likely to be a key figure for Menezes in London, as is gifted team mate Paulo Henrique Ganso, but there are no places for another former World Player of the Year, Káká of Real Madrid or AC Milan’s Robinho.
Menezes has also included a number of players who helped Brazil win the under 20 World Cup in Colombia last year.
Women’s coach Jorge Barcellos has also selected his longlist of 33 for the team going to London 2012.
Leading the picks, are five time World Player of the Year Marta (pictured right) and midfielder Rosana (left) of European champions Olympique Lyonnais.
Barcellos will whittle down the selection to 25 for a pre-Olympic training camp in June before settling on the final 18 closer to the start of the Games, though he has no age restrictions to deal with.
The women’s football tournament will be the first Olympic event kicking off, on July 25, two days before the Opening Ceremony of London 2012, with the men’s competition getting underway a day later.
Both Menezes and Barcellos will be determined to do well in London, hoping to bring home the first Olympic gold football medals in Brazilian history.
The women’s team have been runners up on two occasions, whilst the men were bronze medal winners in Beijing four years ago, when Ronaldinho played.
Full men’s squad: Diego Alves, Gabriel, Jefferson, Julio Cesar, Neto, Rafael Cabral, Renan Ribeiro, Adriano, Alex Sandro, Daniel Alves, Danilo, Fagner, Gabriel Silva, Galhardo, Marcelo, Rafael, Bruno Uvini, David Luiz, Dedé, Juan, Lucas Mendes, Luisão, Marquinhos, Romário, Thiago Silva, Casemiro, Elias, Hernanes, Rômulo, Sandro, Allan, Bernard, Douglas Costa, Dudu, Elkeson, Fernandinho, Fernando, Paulo Henrique Ganso, Giuliano, Lucas, Oscar, Philippe Coutinho, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Alexandre Pato, André, Henrique, Hulk, Jonas, Leandro Damião, Neymar, Wellington Nem and Willian José.
Full women’s squad: Adriane, Aline Pellegrino, Andreia Santos, Andreia Suntaque, Barbara Micheline, Beatrice, Bruna, Cristiane, Daiane, Daiane Moretti, Daiane Rodrigues, Dani, Debinha, Elaine, Erika, Esther, Fabi, Francielle, Francisleide, Gabi, Glãucia, Grazielle, Maria, Marta, Maurine, Mayara, Pollyanna, Raffaele, Renata Costa, Rosana and Thaisinha.
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