Ronaldinho set to miss London 2012 after snubbed by Brazilian coach

By David Gold

May 12 – Ronaldinho seems set to miss out on London 2012 after failing to make Brazil coach Mano Menezes’ squad for a series of four friendlies in the coming weeks.

Brazil take on Denmark, the United States, Mexico and Argentina between May 26 and June 9, a set of key warm up games ahead of the Olympics.

They give Menezes the perfect opportunity to fine tune his selection for London, and he seems to have his mind set on the Games after choosing just six players over 23 years of age in his 23 man squad.

Only three players over the age of 23 are permitted to play in the men’s Olympic football tournament.

The six who appear to still be in contention for those places are Chelsea’s David Luiz, AC Milan’s Thiago Silva, Dani Alves of Barcelona, Marcelo of Real Madrid, Porto’s Hulk and Botafogo’s Jefferson.

Jefferson would appear to be in with a strong chance of making the squad as he is the only over-age goalkeeper selected, whilst Menezes seems keen to use two of the three slots for defensively minded players.

Powerful forward Hulk is the only player who plays in midfield or attack in the squad, though Brazilian full backs such as Alves and Marcelo tend to play more as wingers.

Two-time World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, a bronze medal winner four years’ ago in Beijing, will probably miss out after a miserable spell with Brazilian side Flamengo this year.

The 32-year-old has been the subject of criticism from fans, who allege he has not been fully committed to their cause, particularly after the side from Rio de Janeiro surprisingly crashed out of the Copa Libertadores – South America’s Champions League – in the group stage.

Santos duo Neymar (pictured) and Paulo Henrique Ganso, who were both in breathtaking form on Thursday (May 10) in a stunning 8-0 Copa Libertadores win over Bolivian side Bolivar for the reigning champions, are near certainties for the Olympic squad.

Also included are São Paulo’s Lucas and Vasco de Gama’s Rômulo, two of the most promising young midfielders in Brazil, and Leandro Damião, a big and technically gifted forward for Internacional, who has attracted attention from teams in Europe.

Others notable selections were AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato, who has not featured for Menezes much of late due to injury, Inter Milan’s Juan and Sandro of Tottenham Hotspur.

Of Brazil’s opponents in the four game series, only Mexico will be at London 2012, with the US and Argentina – winners of the last two Olympic tournaments – both surprise absentees.

Brazil are aiming to win their first ever Olympic gold medal in football, and Menezes’s side will also take on Team GB in their first game for over 40 years in a friendly just before the start of the tournament.

The South Americans will start as favourites to win the tournament though, and were last month handed a favourable draw alongside Egypt, Belarus and New Zealand.

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