British keen on Olympic football future

Great Britain has controversially formed men's and women's teams for London 2012 despite not having the support of all the Home Nations' associations.

Both sides were in action in friendlies on Saturday (AEST) as the men were beaten by Brazil and the women held Sweden to a goalless draw.

Men's captain Ryan Giggs, the veteran Manchester United and former Wales star, has already spoken positively about the experience and called for a Team GB side at all future Olympics.

That presently seems unlikely with associations and leading clubs likely to have objections, but the British Olympic Association would welcome long-term inclusion.

Team GB deputy chef de mission Sir Clive Woodward, the former England rugby union coach who previously had a role in football with Southampton, said: "Personally I would love to see it.

"I thought it was a great shame in Beijing we didn't have two football teams.

"We saw [Lionel] Messi playing for Argentina and I just thought, 'We should be here'.

"Now I see both teams here and even more think that is the right approach, regardless of what actually happens in the tournament.

"But I hope we do really well in this tournament. I think both teams have got a good chance of going all the way. That would be great for football."

The BOA accepts there has been much scepticism surrounding the inclusion of a football team but it is in no doubt the players involved have fully embraced the concept.

Britain's higher-profile men's squad consists of 18 mostly Premier League-based players, 13 of whom are English and five Welsh.