On Tuesday Rogério Micale’s Brazil squad begin their formal preparations for a historic Olympic Games.
Not only is Rio 2016 the first time the event has come to Brazil, but the first time it has been in anywhere in South America.
Since their inaugural appearance in the Olympic football tournament in 1952, the pressure to secure gold has been huge, but in August it will reach unprecedented heights as, for the second time in two years, the five-time world champions are being asked to triumph at a major international tournament at home, Goal.com reports.
The Olympic gold remains the lone title for which they are eligible for that Brazil are yet to win and, after the disappointment of a 2-1 defeat to Mexico in the final of London 2012, their obsession with the quest for gold is more desperate than ever.
New Flamengo striker Leandro Damiao was the star of the London games, finishing top scorer with six goals, and, speaing exclusively toBrasil Global Tour, he recalls fond memories of his own Olympic exploits and is backing Brazil to cope with the pressure to win on home soil this summer."
It's a dream for the city,” said Damiao.“It is very special, the Olympic Village, the people you meet, to go in search of the gold. I had that opportunity but, unfortunately, we did not win.
But now we have another chance, at home."Brazil are under immense pressure to win, but I think we have great players. Brazil will always field great teams but unfortunately last time we lost the final to Mexico and had to settle for silver.
“We have to, and if we do that I'm sure that we will win because we have great players. I will be cheering for them.”
Senior team captain Neymar will lead the charge after the Brazilian football confederation (CBF) agreed with Barcelona that the forward would sit out of last month’sCopa America in order to lead the Olympic team in Rio.
And joined by the two Gabriels in attack, Damiao is confident the Selecao have enough firepower to lead them to glory in Rio.
He added: "They are great strikers and I think they are just as prepared as I was when I managed to score enough goals.
They have to enjoy it because it goes very quickly – in one month it will be all over.”
Brazil have been drawn in Group A in Rio and open theircampaign against South Africa in Brasilia on August 4 before meeting Iraq and Denmark.
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