Brazil’s Menezes discusses Olympic final

Men Gold match TodayBrazil vs Mexico 15:50 SS4 LONDON – Brazil coach Mano Menezes insists there is no chance his players will underestimate Mexico as they look to win a first Olympic gold at Wembley on Saturday.While the five-time global kings have graced the FIFA World Cup with some of the best players and most dazzling performances ever seen on the sport’s grandest stage, they have never managed to replicate those golden moments at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament.A Seleção were bronze medallists in 2008, but this weekend’s showdown with Mexico will be their first Olympic final since 1988, when a team led by Romario and Bebeto finished with the silver. The South Americans also won the silver in the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, but the failure to bring home a gold has rankled with such a proud football nation for decades.Brazil’s Olympic angst has increased since Argentina won gold in Beijing four years ago, and the prospect of taking the top prize previously held by their arch-rivals, who failed to qualify for football at London 2012, has only increased the motivation in Menezes’s squad. Brazil are unbeaten in their five matches, scoring three times in each game to take their tally to 15 goals en route to the final.The pick of the bunch have been Chelsea’s new playmaker Oscar, Santos attacker Neymar and Internacional striker Leandro Damiao, who struck twice in the semi-final win over Korea Republic. With that trio in such inspired form, Menezes has been able to give only cameo roles to top-class talents like Porto’s Hulk and AC Milan’s Alexandre Pato, while Lucas Moura has often failed to get off the bench. But Menezes knows the dangers of allowing his much-praised players to rest on their laurels against a Mexico side going for a first gold in their maiden Olympic final.“I expect a very difficult final,” said the former Gremio and Corinthians coach.”Mexico have prepared well. Their U-23 side played in the Copa America and the Pan-American Games. Now they have added their three over-aged players (Jose Corona, Carlos Salcido and Oribe Peralta) they look very strong.Agencies

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Brazil’s Menezes discusses Olympic final