Great expectations for Brazil

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21 July 2012-AP

Striker Neymar feels Brazil's Olympic football team could make no better statement ahead of hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup than by winning gold for the first time in the country's history.

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Despite lifting the World Cup on five occasions, Olympic gold has eluded the Brazilian football side.

"Winning this tournament would show that we are on the right track for winning the 2014 World Cup," Neymar said.

"There is a great expectation at home for us to win the gold medal," the budding star said. "It is very important because we have never won Olympic gold before so now we have a chance to make history."

The 20-year-old Neymar, who is the leading scorer at Santos, has been repeatedly linked with a move away from his homeland to a European club.

"My wish today is to stay at Santos, and I am very happy," Neymar said. "It is my dream to play in Europe one day, but not now."

Brazil, drawn in Group C alongside Egypt, Belarus and New Zealand, face the British side in a friendly on Friday.

Neymar expressed his disappointment that David Beckham was not selected for the British team for the London games.

"I was sad because he is a great player, so I would have liked to have played against him one time. It would have been something I could have told my children."