Neymar, Costa named in Brazil Olympic squad

Rio de Janeiro, June 30 (IANS) Barcelona forward Neymar and Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa have been included in Brazil's 18-man squad for the Rio 2016 Olympics, the Brazilian Soccer Confederation (CBF) said on Wednesday.

Rogerio Micale, the coach of the Brazil U-23 squad, also named 37-year-old Palmeiras goalkeeper Fernando Prass among the three players aged over 23 allowed by the International Olympic Committee, reports Xinhua.

An Olympic gold medal is the only major international football accolade to elude Brazil.

Micale's team will debut in the tournament against South Africa in Brasilia on August 4. Their remaining group matches will be against Iraq in Brasilia on August 7 and Denmark in Salvador three days later.

The CBF also confirmed that Brazil will play a pre-Olympics friendly against Japan in Goiania on July 30.

Brazil's Olympic soccer squad:

Goalkeepers: Fernando Prass (Palmeiras), Uilson (Atletico Mineiro)

Defenders: William (Internacional), Douglas Santos (Atletico Mineiro), Zeca (Santos), Rodrigo Caio (Sao Paulo), Luan (Vasco da Gama), Marquinhos (Paris Saint Germain)

Midfielders: Thiago Maia (Santos), Rodrigo Dourado (Internacional), Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk), Rafinha Alcantara (Barcelona), Felipe Anderson (Lazio)

Forwards: Neymar (Barcelona), Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich), Luan (Gremio), Gabriel Barbosa (Santos), Gabriel Jesus (Palmeiras).

--IANS

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