The men’s Olympic football event will commence from 26th July to 11th August. With Argentina, the nation who won gold at the last two games out, this years gold is certainly up for grabs.

At these games the favorites are considered to be Brazil, Spain and Uruguay, but as it has been proved in past tournaments anything can happen and this event will be no different. With this in mind, teams like Mexico, Great Britain, Belarus, Switzerland and Japan will look to make their mark and upset the odds.

As we all know the Olympics only comes around once every four years, so some of these players may only get one opportunity at it. This alone is enough to spur every player on, with that being said, I am sure all 16 teams will be fighting tooth and nail for gold.

Here are the 16 teams going for gold…..

GROUP A

GREAT BRITAIN

Captain: Ryan Giggs
Star Man: Craig Bellamy
One to Watch: Scott Sinclair

After a 50 odd year absence the GB team are back in the 2012 Olympics via the host nation qualification. This is a welcome novelty for most of today’s fans who will relish the opportunity to see the younger players compete. Welsh counterparts Giggs and Bellamy will be overjoyed at playing in their first summer tournament and will need to use all their experience to take team GB far. Sinclair could well be that creative spark needed on the wing to get the crowd lively, although Cleverley is also a player with the ability to impress.

Prediction: Quarter Final

SENEGAL

Captain: Stephane Badji
Star Man: Dame N’Doye
One to Watch: Sado Mane

Senegal’s young stars come into these Olympic Games with the distinguished achievement of qualifying for the first time in their country’s history. This is due to their fourth place in the inaugural CAF under 23s tournament. Having said that, I doubt they have the quality to make any impact but just reaching these games is an achievement in itself. West Ham’s Diame will be one of the few known names in the team along with Everton’s Gueye. Over age Copenhagen striker N’Doye will probably be their stand out player.

Prediction: Group Stages

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Captain: Ismal Matar
Star Man: Ismal Matar
One to Watch: Ahmed Khali

Although they are unknown to many, UAE are a very useful side at this level. They have qualified for the first time for an Olympic tournament in what is a very successful time for the county. In 2010 they won the under 23’s Gulf Cup and were runners-up last year. They also got a silver medal in the 2010 Asian games. 29-year-old Matar is the talisman and was the top scorer leading his country to the 2007 senior Gulf cup. Ahmed Khali is considered to be the young pretender to his crown with formidable scoring records at under 17s, 20s and 23s level.

Prediction: Group Stages

URUGUAY

Captain: Luis Suarez
Star Man: Luis Suarez
One to watch: Gaston Ramirez

After almost a 90 year absence, Uruguay comes into the tournament looking like one of the more exciting prospects. They have a formidable strike force led by skipper Suarez, ominously backed up by Cavani and young star Hernandez. The senior team, who more than half of this Olympic team have already been capped for, are currently the Copa America holders and finished fourth in the 2010 World Cup. Midfielder Ramirez looks a lively prospect and has already interested the top clubs around Europe.

Prediction: Winners

GROUP B

GABON

Captain: Remy Ebanega
Star Man: Landry Jerry Obiang
One to Watch: Andrre Biyogo Poko

Not much is known about the Gabon team who are playing in their first Olympic games but what we do know is they have pedigree at this level. They won the Inaugural CAF under 23 tournament in December beating no less than Ivory Coast and Senegal then host nation Morocco in final, thus qualifying for the Olympics with real confidence. They have no household names in the squad but Bordeaux midfielder Poko could well be the break out star of the team.

Prediction: Group Stages

MEXICO

Captain: Carlos Salcido
Star Man: Giovani Dos Santos
One to Watch: Marco Fabian

At this level Mexico are an experience and dangerous force. They won the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament winning all five of their games and are the current Pan American games holders. Led by the highly experienced Salcido (over 100 caps) they boast a very exciting and skilful team with Tottenham player Dos Santos at the top of that list. In midfield Fabian has a tremendous scoring record and will look to extend this. Over age player Peralta, although a late bloomer in international football has already proved to be a very useful goal scorer.

Prediction: Third Place

SOUTH KOREA

Captain: Koo Ja-Cheol
Star Man: Park Chu-Young
One to Watch: Ki Sung-Yueng

As a nation South Korea are the proverbial veterans at the Olympics as these are their ninth games, unfortunately they have only progressed past the group stages once in 2004. To emulate this, they will need big contributions from their British based players. Arsenal striker Park will be the main threat and will want to impress as one of the over age players. Celtic midfielder Ki who has represented his country at under 17s and 20s level will hope to provide that creative spark from midfield. Cardiff player Kim Bo-kyung is also a player that could impress for his country.

Prediction: Group Stages

SWITZERLAND

Captain: Diego Benaglio
Star Man: Fabian Frei
One to Watch: Innocent Emeghara

The Swiss are another nation who after a long absence finds themselves in the Olympic Games. They do have pedigree as in 2009 much of this squad won the World under 17s crown and came runner-up in the Euro under 21 championships last year. The Swiss could well be entering a golden era in their history. Experienced keeper Benaglio will lead the side as an over aged player. Nigerian born Swiss striker Emeghara has scored 5 goals in 8 games for the under 21s and will definitely be a threat. Although the star man is debatable, Frei with his Champions League experience will be looked upon to deliver the goods.

Prediction: Quarter Final

GROUP C

BELARUS

Captain: Sergei Kornilenko
Star Man: Renan Bressan
One to Watch: Stanislaw Drahun

Belarus enter their first Olympic games as an independent nation having previously been a part of the former Soviet Union. At under 21 level they lost in the semi-final to eventual winners Spain in the European championships and many have talked about this being a “golden generation”. Brazilian born Midfielder Bressan has shown the type of skill and quality we come to expect from a Brazilian. Drahun another midfielder, has represented his country at under 17s, 19s and 21 level and has undoubted talent but also has a reputation for being quite a hot head.

Prediction: Quarter Final

BRAZIL

Captain: Thiago Silva
Star Man: Neymar
One to Watch: Alex Pato

It is amazing to think that with all their quality and achievements Brazil have never won Olympic gold. They have won silver in Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988, bronze in Atlanta 1996 and Beijing 2008. With neighbours Argentina winning the last two tournaments but not qualifying for this one they will be determined to claim gold, especially after winning the world under 20s tournament last year. All eyes will no doubt be on Neymar who has marvelled with his skills and goals over the past few years. With the pressure off, coming back from injuries and still only 22 Pato could well just give one and all a timely reminder of how good he really is.

Prediction: Fourth Place

EGYPT

Captain: Mohamed Abourtrika
Star Man: Emad Moteab
One to Watch: Marwan Mohsen

Having qualified for their 11th games, Egypt are another veteran nation with pedigree at this level, although this is their first appearance since Barcelona 1992 and they are yet to get past the quarter finals. Over age striker Moteab will be looked upon to lead the line. Marwan Mohsen is very experienced having already bagged 20 goals at this under 23’s level and could well form a dangerous partnership with Moteab. Young goalkeeper El-Shenawy who has already represented the senior team will be another looking to put his talents on show.

Prediction: Group Stages

NEW ZEALAND

Captain: Ryan Nelsen
Star Man: Shane Smeltz
One to Watch: Chris Wood

New Zealand are only playing in their second Olympic games but at this level they do have some pedigree. They are the current under 23 OFC champions winning it on the last two occasions and three out of the last four (although they only have Australia to contend with). Captained by veteran Ryan Nelson they do have a young and talented squad who are starting to gain European experience. Much travelled striker, 30-year-old Smeltz will look to use all of his experience to help the younger players, one such player will be West Bromwich Albion young striker Chris Wood who can spring a surprise or two.

Prediction: Group Stages

GROUP D

HONDURAS

Captain: Maynor Figueroa
Star Man: Maynor Figueroa
One to Watch: Jerry Bengston

Honduras are entering their third games and will want to fear better than their last two appearances by trying to get out of the group phase. Credited they are not overloaded with top class opposition in their CONCACAF qualifying group, they have finished in the top two in three of the last four Olympic years. Wigan Athletics’ defender Figueroa will captain and lead the team. New England Revolution striker Jerry Bengtson will be the man they will look to for some precious goals.

Prediction: Group Stages

JAPAN

Captain: Yuchei Tokunaga
Star Man: Yuki Otsu
One to Watch: Hiroki Sakai

This is the fifth consecutive Olympic Games the Japanese have qualified for but have only managed to get out of the group stages once. They have dominated their Asian qualifying group in recent years and again this year was no exception scoring 17 goals in 8 games. They will be expecting a lot from Borussia Monchengladbach striker Otsu, along with Grampas striker Nagai who has represented Japan at under 20 and 22s level and has a very impressive scoring record. Defender Sakai is fast becoming an accomplished defender with an eye for a goal.

Prediction: Quarter Finals

MOROCCO

Captain: Driss Fettouhi
Star Man: Nordin Amrabat
One to Watch: Zakaria Labyad

Morocco are another side with Olympic pedigree as this is the seventh time they have qualified, but they have only been past the group stages once. In the inaugural CAF tournament in their own country, they impressively beat Egypt in the semi-finals only to lose to Gabon in the final. Star man Amrabat is an ex Dutch under 21 international who switched nationalities in 2009. He is a tricky winger with experience of playing in Europe with PSV. Young midfielder Labyad is also a Dutch born player who played for PSV, now Sporting in Portugal and is tipped to be a Moroccan star.

Prediction: Group Stages

SPAIN

Captain: Cesar Azpilicueta
Star Man: Juan Mata
One to Watch: Iker Muniain / Cristian Tello

After an absence of 12 years Spain’s current crop of stars are back. Having won as host in Barcelona 1992 and more recently came runner-up in 2000, combined with the senior teams recent successes they will be the team everyone will be weary of. Jaun Mata is the obvious name and talisman as one of the over age players but still is only 24. With Spain’s abundance of talent, Bilbao starlet and still only 19, Iker Muniain has already proved in La Liga and Europe he could be the star of the tournament. Likewise Tello who has already rubbed shoulders with the best at Barcelona and has not looked out-of-place.

Prediction: Runner Up