Brazil's Olympic football team eyes rivals from all regions

Brazil's under-23 football team will play friendlies against rivals from all regions as it prepares for the Rio 2016 Games.

Team officials are in talks with counterparts from Portugal, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Nigeria, Argentina, Colombia and the United States, according to the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper.

"The idea is to have a taste for everything we might face in Rio," said Brazil coach Alexandre Gallo.

Brazil's football federation in July announced the plans to stage U23 friendlies concurrently with the Selecao's full international fixtures in preparation for the Games.

According to Gallo only players who will be under 23 in 2016 will be considered for the matches.

The Olympic football tournament is the only major international football competition that Brazil is yet to win.

Gallo's team defeated Bolivia's senior international outfit 3-1 in the wetlands city of Cuiaba on Friday. Enditem