Ryan Giggs will captain Britain’s football team at the London Olympics, head coach Stuart Pearce said on Sunday.
The 38-year-old Welsh winger, one of three over-age players in the 18-man squad, is taking part in his first international tournament and will captain the side for the first time when it plays Brazil in a warm-up at Middlesbrough on July 20.
The appointment was confirmed on the English FA’s website (www.thefa.com) on Sunday.
Giggs has won 12 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions Leagues with Manchester United and is the most decorated player in English football history but has never played in a major championship because of Wales’ failure to reach either the World Cup or European finals during his long career.
The match against Brazil will be the first time Britain have fielded an Olympic squad since they played Bulgaria in a qualifier in 1971 ahead of the Munich Olympics the following year. They last played in the finals in 1960.
Britain faces Uruguay, United Arab Emirates and Senegal in their group stage matches.
London 2012 Olympics :US Basketball,LeBron James, Kobe Bryant return to U.S. team for London Games
Five members of the gold medal winning lineup at the 2008 Bejing Games were included in the 12-man U.S. Olympic basketball team announced by USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo on Saturday.
LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Deron Williams return for another bid for Olympic glory and will spearhead a potent roster in London where the U.S. are favourites.
Colangelo announced the selections after two U.S. team training sessions in Las Vegas, though final approval is still required by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
“We projected we would have difficulty getting down to a roster of 12, regardless of the number of injuries that have taken place, because they are such an outstanding group of people and athletes,” Colangelo said in a statement.
“The final selections keep us in concert with our game plan to have athleticism, versatility and strong depth on our roster. I think our final roster epitomizes all of that.”
The U.S. team had been hit by a recent rash of injuries to several leading candidates, including Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat players Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
“We have benefited so much from having a pool of outstanding players who are committed, and as a result the selection is difficult,” U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
“But it’s the best challenge that you could have because everyone has been so committed.”
The 2012 U.S. Olympic team: Carmelo Anthony (Knicks), Kobe Bryant (Lakers), Tyson Chandler (Knicks), Kevin Durant (Thunder), Blake Griffin (Clippers), James Harden (Thunder), Andre Iguodala (76ers), LeBron James (Heat), Kevin Love (Timberwolves), Chris Paul (Clippers), Russell Westbrook (Thunder) and Deron Williams (Nets). (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Patrick Johnston)
[adrotate banner=”46″]
