Rio 2016: Olympics already two days in ahead of tomorrow’s opening ceremony as Brazilian icon Neymar takes centre-stage
NEYMAR will kick off Brazil's pursuit of a first ever men's football gold on the second day of Rio 2016.
The Barcelona star joins new Manchester City signing Gabriel Jesus in the squad for this evening's opener against South Africa.
Women's superstar Marta led her side to a 3-0 victory over China yesterday as the hosts got off to a flier.
Team GB are not competing in the football so will have to wait until after Friday's opening ceremony, the official start of the Games, to see action.
Just 55 of the 366 athletes are expected to attend the traditional curtain-raiser as the Brits focus on following up London 2012 with another huge medal haul.
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BOA chief executive Bill Sweeney said: “It will be a fairly small delegation. We have a big crew in Belo Horizonte training and some competing 24 or 48 hours after the opening ceremony.
“We expect there to be in the region of 55 or so marching athletes. So given the fact that we have 366 athletes, it’s a small number but priorities are on competing and not the marching bit.”
Brazil prohibited star man, Neymar, from going to their disastrous Copa America campaign — where their group stage elimination cost former boss Dunga his job — so he could be part of the Olympic party.
Taking the ultimate prize at their home Games will be the No1 priority for the nation.
Neymar's team-mates Gabriel Barbosa and Luan will also draw attention at 8pm tonight as a host of European clubs chase the talented strikers.
Iraq will play Denmark in the 5pm fixture.
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