Mexico planning to keep Brazil off top of football podium at Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Host nation desperate for first Olympic title but reigning champions determined to keep hold of their crown, says Carlos Salcedo
Salcedo in action against Honduras in the final of the Olympic Games qualifying tournament (Getty Images/Gene Sweeney Jr)
Brazilian football star Neymar has stated his desire to lead the hosts to a first Olympic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Games, but the defending champions have other ideas. Mexico defeated Brazil 2-1 in the London 2012 final at Wembley and they seem far from intimidated about taking on the five-time world champions on home soil next year.
“Our coach has encouraged us to believe and has spoken of what happened in 2012 in London when Mexico beat Brazil,” said Chivas defender Carlos Salcedo, one of the brightest young stars of Mexican football, in an exclusive interview with rio2016.com. “Obviously, we would like to repeat that and create our own piece of history, playing in the final at the Maracanã Stadium, and winning the gold medal.”
Asked about the prospect of facing Brazil in next year’s Olympic tournament, Salcedo used a phrase typical in Spanish and Portuguese, saying they would play with “the knife between the teeth”. The 22-year-old continued: “We would like to face them in the final, but if it happens before, it will still be a beautiful game and we will have to be at 100 per cent throughout.”
Salcedo has won rave reviews for his performances with Chivas, the club from the Mexican city of Guadalajara. He was also one of the key components as El Tri – as the Mexican national team is known – confirmed their place in the Rio 2016 Games by winning this month’s Olympic Qualifying tournament for North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Brazil’s Oscar looks on as Mexico celebrate winning the London 2012 Olympic final (Photo: Getty Images/Jeff J Mitchell)
For Brazil, the presence of Mexico in Rio will not bring good memories. Neymar and co had been favourites to finally win the one major international title that has evaded them, arriving in the 2012 final having won all five of their matches and scoring three goals in each. Brazil have won three silver and two bronze medals in Olympic football and the nation expects gold on home soil.
However, Salcedo believes that Mexico have the credentials to defend their title. “We work very well together, we have players that European teams are observing and this speaks well of their individual ability. The team is very close is this motivates us even more.”
Olympic football is contested by under-23 players but each squad can include three ‘over-age’ players, and several global stars could take part in Rio. As well as Neymar, Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said he would love to be involved, while Portugal are reportedly thinking of calling up Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sixteen teams will contest the men’s football tournament at Rio 2016, with following sides already qualified: Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Fiji, Mexico and Honduras.
