Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Brazil’s under-20s coach Micale will handle the host nation’s football squad at the Rio Olympics, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Wednesday.
It had previously been thought likely that former national coach Dunga would oversee the Olympic team, but he was fired after Brazil’s shock first round exit from the Copa America.
“A preliminary list of 35 players and the 12 members of the coaching staff is about to be sent to FIFA,” the CBF said Wednesday.
“The final 18-player squad will be revealed on June 29 during a press conference with the coach Rogerio Micale at the CBF headquarters.”
Chief on the player list should be the Barcelona striker Neymar, who was absent from the Copa America after his club side made that a pre-condition of releasing him for the Olympic Games in his homeland.
