Brazil’s Olympic team rubbish: Romario
July 6th, 2012 - 5:06 pm ICT by IANS
Rio de Janeiro, July 6 (IANS) Legendary football striker Romario has lambasted Brazil’s choice of over-age players for the Olympic Games.
Brazil’s national coach Mano Menezes announced a 22-man squad for London Thursday with Marcelo (Real Madrid), Thiago Silva (AC Milan) and Hulk (FC Porto) named as the three over-23-year-old players permitted by the International Olympic Committee. The team will be trimmed to 18 people before the London Games, reported Xinhua.
“It is rubbish, nothing against the over-23s that were selected but this called for players who are respected,” Romario told local media.
“I’m not the coach but I disagree with the selection. I would take three defenders over the age of 23.”
Romario, who was part of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning team, said he would have chosen Silva alongside Chelsea’s David Luiz and Barcelona’s Daniel Alves.
The former Barcelona striker, now a federal deputy for the Brazilian socialist party, reserved particularly harsh criticism for Hulk.
“Hulk is a good player and has a big future but he is a player for the World Cup (in 2014), not the Olympics. We have so many players over the age of 23. We should have taken a player who commands more respect.”
Menezes said Hulk, who has been linked with a summer move to Chelsea, was selected for his good performances during Brazil’s four international friendlies in May and June.
As expected, the squad includes Brazil-based stars Neymar, Paulo Henrique Ganso, Oscar, Lucas and Leandro Damiao.
The Olympic tournament is the only major soccer competition Brazil is yet to win.
- Ronaldinho in Brazil squad, Kaka out - Feb 15, 2012
- Brazil select 22 players for Olympic football squad - Jul 06, 2012
- Brazil to play three strikers at Olympics - Jul 17, 2012
- Chelsea star Luiz out of Brazil friendlies - May 26, 2012
- Ronaldinho out of Brazil squad - May 12, 2012
- Ronaldinho dropped from Brazil Olympic probables - Jun 08, 2012
- Ronaldinho dropped from Brazil Olympic probables - Jun 08, 2012
- Brazil winger Hulk anxious for Olympic call-up - May 27, 2012
- Menezes to blame for Brazil's Olympic agony, says Romario - Aug 12, 2012
- Romario asks government to sack national coach - Sep 21, 2012
- Hulk hits back at Romario criticism - Jul 08, 2012
- Striker Fabiano recalled to Brazil squad - Sep 12, 2012
- Brazil coach Menezes vows to win 2014 World Cup - Apr 09, 2012
- Hulk scores second-half winner for Brazil - Sep 08, 2012
- Hulk in Brazil's starting line-up against China - Sep 10, 2012
Tags: ac milan, ganso, harsh criticism, international friendlies, international olympic committee, london games, london thursday, man squad, marcelo real madrid, menezes, national coach, olympic games, olympic team, olympic tournament, paulo henrique, romario, s david, soccer competition, thiago silva, world cup in 2014