Brazil to play three strikers at Olympics

Rio de Janeiro, July 17 (IANS) Brazilian coach Mano Menezes has confirmed plans for attacking with three strikers at the London Olympics' football competition.

Menezes said forwards Neymar, Hulk and Leandro Damiao would all start in Brazil's Olympic warm-up friendly against Britain at Middlesbrough Friday, Xinhua reports.

The trio featured in Brazil's Olympic team in a practice match against the squad's reserves on the final day of a pre-Games training camp here Sunday.

The first-choice formation also included Chelsea target Oscar in the role of playmaker in place of Santos starlet Paulo Henrique Ganso.

"The team that will begin the friendly is the same that started in the practice match Sunday," Menezes said before the team's departure for London.

Brazil's squad received a visit at its hotel from Botafogo star Clarence Seedorf, who wished his former AC Milan teammates Alexandre Pato and Thiago Silva luck for the competition.