Neymar leads 'Golden Trio' as Brazil kick-off quest for elusive Olympic title
Barcelona forward Neymar aims to banish World Cup disappointment by winning country's first Olympic football gold medal
All of Brazil pinning its hopes on the Barcelona striker after a disappointing World Cup campaign two years ago (Photo: Getty Images/Koji Watanabe)
The men's football competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be dominated by one name: Neymar.
Memories of Brazil's disappointing 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign are still fresh in a football-mad country and the decision of star forward Neymar to miss the 2016 Copa America in order to be an over-age player at Rio 2016 is a statement of intent.
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Barcelona forward Neymar fractured a vertebra in his back during the World Cup quarter-final against Colombia and missed the humiliating 7-1 semifinal defeat by Germany.
Neymar pictured during a training session prior to Brazil's friendly with Japan (Photo:Getty Images/Koji Watanabe)
Neymar gets into the swing of Rio 2016 with a shot at golf
Brazil, five-time world champions, have never won an Olympic gold medal in 12 appearances and were beaten by Mexico in the London 2012 Olympic Games final. They start against outsiders South Africa at the Mane Garrincha Stadium, Brasilia, on 4 August and also play Iraq and Denmark in group A.
Joining Neymar in the Brazilian line-up are Gabriel Barbosa of Santos and Gabriel Jesus of Palmeiras, both of whom are attracting attention from big clubs in Europe including the English Premier League.
The Danes, who last qualified for the Olympic Games in 1992, have beaten Nigeria and Honduras and drawn with the Republic of Korea in a warm-up tournament and would expect to progress to the knockout stages along with Brazil.
Seoul power
Korea, who are making an Olympic record eighth appearance in a row and 10th in total, were bronze medallists at London. The Taeguk Warriors face the champions in the final group C match, on 10 August in Brasilia.
Korea can call on Tottenham's Son Heungmin while Oribe Peralta is an over-age survivor from Mexico's 2012 gold medal team. First the Warriors take a step into the unknown against Fiji at the Fonte Nova Arena, Salvador, on 4 August.
Fiji, coached by experienced former Australia coach Frank Farina and recognised more for their rugby prowess, are making their Olympic Games debut in a group which also includes a World Cup winner in Germany's Matthias Ginter.
It is 20 years since Nigeria became the first African nation to win a football gold medal (Atlanta 1996). The Dream Team VI, including John Obi Mikel of former English Premier League champions Chelsea, have the talent to spring a surprise in an open group B which includes Sweden, Japan and Colombia.
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Two-time gold medallists Argentina (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008) have struggled to put a squad together because of opposition from clubs. Head coach Gerardo Martino resigned in frustration in June and has been replaced by Julio Olarticoachea, a 1986 World Cup winner.
Los Albicelestes still cannot be discounted in group D. They face Honduras, Algeria and Portugal, whose senior team have just won the 2016 UEFA European Championships.
