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By Mike Collett
LONDON, April 24 – Hosts Britain, taking part in their first
Olympic soccer finals since 1960, will kick off their bid for
gold against Senegal at Old Trafford after being placed in a
tough opening round group in the draw at Wembley on Tuesday.
Senegal, who play Britain on July 26, reached their first
Olympics after beating Oman 2-0 in a playoff on Monday and the
group will be completed by Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates.
Like Britain, who won the soccer gold in 1908 and 1912,
Uruguay also boast two Olympic titles from 1924 and 1928, and
they are returning to the Games after a long absence, in their
case 84 years since they won the tournament in Antwerp.
“I saw them play at the Under-20 World Cup and they were
very impressive,” Britain coach Stuart Pearce told a news
conference.
Pearce has a list of 80 probables for his Olympic squad from
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and can call on
leading players from the Premier League.
Luis Suarez of Liverpool could be included in the Uruguay
squad and Newcastle United strikers Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse
would add considerable firepower to the Senegal team.
“It is such an honour to play against Britain in the opening
match at Old Trafford,” Augustin Senghor, the president of the
Senegalese FA, told Reuters.
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