Played
July 27, 2012 5:00 AM EST
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee:‬ R. Irmatov‎
Attendance:‬ 72176‎
 

Team GB - Senegal Preview: The home nations prepare to kick off the Games after 52 years in Olympic exile

Stuart Pearce's side take on the Lions at Old Trafford, with both teams looking to throw down the gauntlet to Group A favourites Uruguay

By Joe Wright

More On :  Great Britain U-23, Senegal U-23, Great Britain U-23 vs Senegal U-23
Team GB v Brazil, Team GB line up
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUP
TEAM GB

Butland
Taylor, Richards, Caulker, Bertrand
Ramsey, Allen, Giggs, Cleverley
Sturridge, Bellamy
SENEGAL


Mane
Ciss, Souare, P Gueye, Bindia
Konate, Diame, I Gueye, Toure
N'Doye, Balde

Team GB have no fresh injury concerns ahead of their opening Group A encounter, with the news that Daniel Sturridge has recovered from meningitis in time for the Games coming as a timely boost for the squad.

Jack Butland is likely to get the nod in goal over Jason Steele after impressing during the second half of his side's 2-0 defeat to Brazil last Friday, while Stuart Pearce is likely to stick with the same outfield XI which started at the Riverside Stadium.

Senegal likewise have a full squad to choose from, with Ibrahima Balde set to lead the line for the Lions after scoring the second goal against Oman to book their place at the Games.

West Ham's Mohamed Diame will anchor the midfield for the African side against a British contingent well known to him following his time in the Premier League with Wigan.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Great Britain are competing in the Men's football tournament this year for the first time since 1962.
  • The last time they fielded a side in the competition, the Beatles had not yet released a record.
  • Ryan Giggs (pictured right) will captain the side in his first-ever international tournament at the age of 38.
  • Coach Stuart Pearce has an impressive record at international youth level, guiding the England U-21s to the 2009 Uefa U-21 Championships.
  • Senegal will make their Olympics debut at Old Trafford on Thursday.
  • Two African sides have won Gold in this event in the last four Games: Nigeria in 1996, and Cameroon in 2000.
  • The Lions have won their last two matches against high-fancied opposition: a 1-0 win over Switzerland followed an impressive 2-0 victory against Spain.
  • Senegal reached the quarter-final stage of the 2002 World Cup - only two other African sides have achieved this feat.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Great Britain U-23 2-0 Senegal U-23
    16.12 %
  • Great Britain U-23 2-1 Senegal U-23
    12.75 %
  • Great Britain U-23 3-1 Senegal U-23
    7.84 %
Head to Head
Olympic Games ‎(OLY)‎ 27/07/2012 Great Britain U-23 1 - Senegal U-23 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Great Britain U-23
05/08/2012Great Britain U-23 1 - South Korea U-23 1OLY
02/08/2012Great Britain U-23 1 - Uruguay U-23 0OLY
30/07/2012Great Britain U-23 3 - UAE U-23 1OLY
27/07/2012Great Britain U-23 1 - Senegal U-23 1OLY
01/04/2009Great Britain U-23 0 - France U-21 2FR
Senegal U-23
04/08/2012Mexico U-23 4 - Senegal U-23 2OLY
02/08/2012Senegal U-23 1 - UAE U-23 1OLY
30/07/2012Senegal U-23 2 - Uruguay U-23 0OLY
27/07/2012Great Britain U-23 1 - Senegal U-23 1OLY
24/04/2012Oman Under 23 0 - Senegal U-23 2OGPO
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
23Jack ButlandGoalkeeper
2Neil TaylorDefender
3Ryan BertrandDefender
5Steven CaulkerDefender
14Micah RichardsDefender
23Danny RoseMidfielder
23Tom CleverleyMidfielder
22Joe AllenMidfielder
11Ryan GiggsMidfielder
23Daniel SturridgeStriker
8Craig BellamyStriker
13Jason SteeleGoalkeeper
6Craig DawsonDefender
12James TomkinsDefender
13Jack CorkDefender
10Aaron RamseyMidfielder
16Scott Sinclair Midfielder
17Marvin Sordell Striker
1Ousmane ManéGoalkeeper
2Saliou CissDefender
4Abdoulaye BaDefender
5Papa GueyeDefender
18Pape Ndiaye SouareDefender
6Zargo TouréMidfielder
13Mohamed DiameMidfielder
14Idrissa GueyeMidfielder
7Moussa KonatéMidfielder
10Sadio ManéStriker
12IbrahimaStriker
16P. CamaraGoalkeeper
8Cheikhou KouyatéDefender
9S. MbodjiDefender
17S. BadjiMidfielder
-Ibrahima SeckMidfielder
15Magaye GueyeStriker
-Khalidou Coulibaly YeroStriker
Results
Matchday 1
Times In EST
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Leandro Damião Leandro Damião
Striker
Internacional 		6 0
Moussa Konaté Moussa Konaté
Striker
Krasnodar 		5 0
O. Peralta O. Peralta
Striker
Santos Laguna 		4 0
Giovani dos Santos Giovani dos Santos
Striker
Mallorca 		3 1
Neymar Neymar
Striker
Santos 		3 1