THE TEAMS
2012
Mens Qualifying Teams
2012
Belarus
|
Brazil |
Egypt |
Gabon |
Great Britain |
Honduras |
Japan |
Korea Republic |
Mexico |
Morocco |
New Zealand |
Oman or Senegal |
Spain |
Switzerland |
United Arab Emirates |
Uruguay |
Womens Qualifying
Teams 2012
Brazil |
Cameroon |
Canada |
Colombia |
France
|
Great Britain |
Japan
|
Korea DPR |
New Zealand
|
South Africa
|
Sweden
|
USA
|
Men’s
Olympic Football Tournament
Group A: Great Britain,
Senegal, UAE, Uruguay
Group B: Mexico, Korea Republic, Gabon, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Egypt, Belarus, New Zealand
Group D: Spain, Japan, Honduras, Morocco
Group D
Women’s
Olympic Football Tournament
Group E: Great Britain, New Zealand, Cameroon, Brazil
Group F: Japan, Canada, Sweden, South Africa
Group G: USA, France, Colombia, Korea DPR
Quarter-finals
| Match |
Date - Time |
Venue |
|
|
Results |
|
|
| 19 |
03/08
12:00 |
Glasgow
|
|
1F |
- |
2G |
|
| 20 |
03/08
14:30 |
Newcastle
|
|
1G |
- |
3EF |
|
| 21 |
03/08
17:00 |
Cardiff
|
|
2E |
- |
2F |
|
| 22 |
03/08
19:30 |
Coventry
|
|
1E |
- |
3FG |
|
Semi-finals
| Match |
Date - Time |
Venue |
|
|
Results |
|
|
| 23 |
06/08 17:00 |
London
|
|
W19 |
- |
W21 |
|
| 24 |
06/08 19:45 |
Manchester
|
|
W22 |
- |
W20 |
|
Bronze medal match
| Match |
Date - Time |
Venue |
|
|
Results |
|
|
| 25 |
09/08 13:00 |
Coventry
|
|
L24 |
- |
L23 |
|
Gold medal match
| Match |
Date - Time |
Venue |
|
|
Results |
|
|
| 26 |
09/08 19:45 |
London
|
|
W24 |
- |
W23 |
|
THE
VENUES
 CARDIFF
As well as being the capital of
Wales,
Cardiff is also home to more than a third of Welsh people, with an
estimated 1.1m people living within the metropolitan area. It became a
city in 1905, being granted the status by King Edward VII, but was only
proclaimed the capital of Wales in 1955. Thanks to its vast population,
Cardiff is the centre for the majority of Wales’ political, commercial
and cultural activities, with the Welsh Assembly being based in the
city since its creation in 1998. The city’s rich history saw it
under
the control of two of England’s greatest invaders – the Romans and the
Normans – who left their mark in the form of Cardiff Castle. It now
remains much intact since being rebuilt almost 1000 years ago on the
site of the original Roman structure. Attractions such as this, the
country’s National History Museum, and the impressive architecture
around Cathays Park saw Cardiff pull in 14.6m visitors in 2009, making
it the biggest tourist destination in Wales.
Cardiff’s footballing pedigree has undergone something of a renaissance
since the turn of the millennium. Cardiff City saw their heyday back in
the 1920s, securing two FA Cup appearances – with one winners medal –
and finishing as First Division runners-up. Having fluctuated
throughout the leagues during the rest of the 20th century, Cardiff
have been making progress in the Championship since 2003. This followed
them dramatically securing promotion via the play-offs inside the
Millennium Stadium, just a mile from their home ground, and have been
moving towards Premier League promotion ever since. This game came in
the midst of a plethora of top class football matches at the Millennium
Stadium as, thanks to the closing of Wembley Stadium and its subsequent
rebuilding in 2001, was the host of the FA Cup, League Cup and Football
League play-off finals until April 2007. It is also the home of the
Welsh national
side.
 Millennium
Stadium |
 COVENTRY
With a population of more than 300,000, Coventry is one of the largest
cities in Britain and has a cultural history to match. Made famous by
the legendary tale of Lady Godiva, the city’s central position in
England has helped it become a considerable tourist attraction. Its
most famous landmark is St Michael’s Cathedral, which was badly damaged
during the Second World War, prompting a new cathedral to be built
alongside the ruins in the 1960s.
As well as the cathedral, the city has several museums and art
galleries, including the world’s largest display of British road
transport. Modern theatres and arenas can also be found in Coventry and
have played host to many famous names from the world of entertainment.
With developments continuing all the time, Coventry is becoming a truly
modern city and excellent transport links will help to ensure its
success as a host venue.
City of Coventry Stadium
The main football club in the area is
Coventry City, who play their home games at the City of Coventry
Stadium. The club was formed in 1883 and were founder members of the
Premier League in 1992. The team currently plays in the Championship
having been relegated from the top flight in 2001. Attendances have
remained admirably high since City’s relegation and around 15,000 fans
can be found at the stadium on match-days.
The club’s sole major trophy was the FA Cup, which was won in 1987 in
what has been acknowledged as one of the greatest finals of all time
against Tottenham Hotspur. City’s geographical rivals are Aston Villa,
Birmingham City and Leicester City. Famous ex-players include Robbie
Keane, Gary McAllister and Craig Bellamy. The Sky Blues - so called for
their bright kit - moved to the current stadium from Highfield Road in
2005.
Ricoh
Arena |
 GLASGOW
The Olympic Football Tournament’s northernmost stop takes the action
into the heart of Scotland, where Glasgow is sure to provide the
warmest of welcomes. Famed for the friendliness of its people and a
fierce passion for football, Scotland’s largest city – the third-most
populous in the UK – is sure to add its own unique flavour to the 2012
mix. Glasgow first came to prominence in the 18th century as a major
transatlantic trading base and soon, as shipbuilding and heavy
engineering flourished around the River Clyde, it became known as the
‘Second City of the British Empire’. Tough times followed as many of
these traditional industries declined, but recent decades have
witnessed the city renewed and reborn. These days, Glasgow is renowned
as one of Britain’s premier destinations for shopping and socialising,
and offers all this from within a half-hour drive of the awe-inspiring
beauty of Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and beyond.
Hampden Park
Edinburgh may be Scotland’s capital
city,
but there is no disputing Glasgow’s status as the country’s football
heartland. The ‘Old Firm’ derby between Celtic and Rangers is
world-renowned and, between them, these famous old clubs have won the
Scottish championship on a staggering 95 occasions. Crowds of 60,000
and 50,000 respectively continue to pack out Celtic Park and Ibrox
Stadium, while Hampden Park has held the European attendance record
ever since 149,415 squeezed in to watch Scotland face England in 1937.
The national stadium is also remembered for hosting arguably the
greatest-ever European Cup final: Real Madrid’s thrilling 7-3 win over
Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960, which was watched by 127,621. The fact
that Hampden, Celtic Park and Ibrox all sit within a four-mile radius
provides a vivid physical demonstration of Glasgow’s love affair with
the beautiful game, and while the former no longer accommodates
colossal, six-figure crowds, it’s sure to provide the perfect venue for
some thrilling Olympic action
.Hampden
Park
|
 LONDON
London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom, the largest
metropolitan area in the Great Britain and the largest urban zone in
the European Union. London has been a major settlement for two
millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who
called it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely
retains its square-mile medieval boundaries. However, since the 19th
century, the name London has also referred to the metropolis developed
around this core.
It is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce,
education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media,
professional services, research and development, tourism and transport
all contributing to its prominence. It is the world's largest financial
centre alongside New York, has the largest city GDP in Europe and is
home to the headquarters of more than 100 of Europe's 500 largest
companies. It is also the most visited city in the world. In 2012
London will become the first city to host the Summer Olympics three
times.
Wembley Stadium
There are few places more deserving
of the
words 'hallowed ground' to a football fan than Wembley Stadium.
Demolished in 2002 to make way for a new state-of-the-art arena, it was
a veritable museum of British sporting history and famous football
moments. And, more than any other stadium in the world, to play at
Wembley was understood to be something special - the pinnacle of being
a footballer was to ply your trade beneath its majestic Twin Towers.
Now those much-loved towers have made way for a 133-metre arch, the
symbol of the new Wembley, which opened in spring 2007 - seven years
after English football said goodbye to the old stadium.
Whatever the future brings at the new 90,000-seat Wembley, for the rest
of the world, playing in the Empire Stadium, as it was originally
known, symbolised being closer to where the game was created. For the
English, an inordinate number of memories were made on that expansive
Wembley pitch. It has witnessed the England team at their best and
worst and was the stage on which they joined the ranks of the select
few nations to have won the FIFA World Cup™ in 1966.
The man who famously lifted the cup that celebrated 30th of July 1966
was Bobby Moore, who enjoyed more than his fair share of triumphs at
the old ground. The great England defender also won the 1964 FA Cup and
1965 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup at Wembley, though in 1975 he was on the
losing side for Fulham against his former side West Ham.
Fellow 1966 hero Bobby Charlton did at least as well as his captain,
winning in addition the FA Cup in 1963 and the European Champion Clubs'
Cup with the outstanding Manchester United team of 1968. Also in that
side was Northern Ireland's greatest ever player George Best and famed
Scottish marksman Dennis Law. On the other half of the pitch with
Benfica was Eusebio, the legendary Portugal striker, who tasted defeat
there not only in 1968 but also in the 1963 European Cup final and 1966
FIFA World Cup semi-final against the hosts.
Dutch legend Johan Cruyff thrilled and stunned over 90,000 supporters
in Wembley at a 1977 friendly, which the Netherlands won 2-0. He also
lifted a European Cup in the stadium as a player with Ajax in 1971 and
a coach with Barcelona in 1992. Another fantastic foreigner to light up
the Wembley pitch was 'The Galloping Major', Ferenc Puskas, who led
Hungary in their 6-3 drubbing of England in what is surely one of the
most celebrated and important friendly matches of all time. If you
wanted to make a statement about football, Wembley was the best place
to do it, and the 'Magical Magyars' of 1953 underlined both their
greatness and England's naivety at the time.
The 'auld enemy' to the north, Scotland, were actually the first team
to get the better of England at Wembley, which they did the second time
the two sides met there in 1928. It was a rather notorious 5-1
hammering in fact, though England got their revenge two years later
under the same towers with a 5-2 win of their own.
Wembley itself was almost as celebrated as the national team it housed,
however, and domestic and European cups of all kinds were played out in
the ground. The stadium hosted every FA Cup final from 1923 to 2000,
every League Cup final from 1967 to 2000, as well as seven European
finals (five in the European Cup and two in the Cup Winners' Cup).
Of all the great and glorious FA Cup finals, two that stand out
prominently are the first, the 'White Horse" final of 1923, and the
'Matthews' final of 1953. Built to accommodate 127,000 people, the
first FA Cup final reportedly saw close to a quarter of a million cram
into the ground. Kick-off was delayed for 45 minutes as the pitch had
to be cleared of supporters there to see Bolton take on West Ham. Among
those restoring order were a mounted police officer, Constable George
Scorey, and his distinctive white horse, Billy, who stood out in the
throng. Bolton's first goal in a 2-0 success was scored while a West
Ham player was still getting through the crowd after retrieving the
ball for a throw-in.
Three decades later, one of England's most respected footballers, Sir
Stanley Matthews was the star of the show in another match featuring
Bolton. Matthews, then 38, was seeking an FA Cup winners' medal at the
third attempt but Bolton seemed to have ruined that hope when they went
3-1 ahead. However, the 'Wizard of the Dribble' proceeded to tear apart
the opposition and those in Wembley on that historic day would never
stop talking about the way that Matthews' Blackpool came back to win
4-3.
Such recollections flood from Wembley unlike any other ground in the
world, and because of England's significant place in the development of
the beautiful game, their football memories have a collective magnetism
for everyone else.
Wembley
Stadium
|
 MANCHESTER
Manchester is situated in the
north-west of
England, fringed by the Cheshire Plain to the south and the Pennines to
the north and east. Although the recorded history of the city began
with the civilian vicus associated with the Roman fort of Mamucium,
which was established around AD 79, it began expanding at an
astonishing rate around the turn of the 19th century as part of a
process of unplanned urbanisation brought on by a boom in textile
manufacture during the Industrial Revolution., becoming the United
Kingdom’s first industrialised city.
Manchester was the site of the
world's
first railway station, where scientists first split the atom and
developed the first programmable computer. Thanks to bands such as
Oasis, New Order and the Happy Mondays, it is known for its music scene
as well as its footballing connections. Manchester was the host of the
2002 Commonwealth Games, and its sports clubs include two Premier
League football teams; Manchester City and Manchester United.
Manchester is the third-most visited city in the United Kingdom by
foreign visitors and the most visited in England outside London.
Old
Trafford
Old
Trafford is the home of Premier League club Manchester United. With a
capacity of 76,212 spectators, it has the second-largest capacity of
any English football stadium after Wembley Stadium, the third-largest
of any stadium in the United Kingdom, and the 11th largest in Europe.
The ground, given the nickname the
Theatre
of Dreams by Sir Bobby Charlton, has been United's permanent residence
since 1910, with the exception of an eight-year absence from 1941 to
1949, following the bombing of the stadium during the Second
World
War. During this period, the club shared Maine Road with local rivals,
Manchester City.
The stadium's current record
attendance was
recorded in 1939, when 76,962 spectators watched the FA Cup semi-final
between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Grimsby Town.
The ground has frequently hosted FA
Cup
semi-final matches as a neutral venue and several England international
fixtures while the new Wembley Stadium was under construction. It also
hosted matches at the 1966 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 1996, as well
as the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final
Old
Trafford Stadium.
|
 NEWCASTLE
UPON TYNE
Newcastle upon Tyne is a tourist-seducing city located in the
metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, in England’s chilly north-east.
Its inhabitants, who are distinguished for their passion for football
and nightlife, and strong accents, number around 275,000 and are
nicknamed Geordies. Newcastle is also renowned for hosting the Great
North Run, the world’s most-popular half-marathon, and boasting its own
brand of beer, Newcastle Brown Ale.
The name Newcastle was adopted in 1080 when Robert Curthose, the son of
William the Conqueror, erected a castle there. The city played a
consequential role in the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century,
and became of one of Britain’s top coal mining and the world’s most
prolific ship building areas, though those industries have since
entered decline. Newcastle has rich involvement with the arts,
especially theatre, and is considered the best night spot in the UK by
The Rough Guide. Many of its most popular bars and nightclubs are
located in the Bigg Market and on the Quayside, a regally handsome area
along the banks of the River Tyne.
St. James’ Park
Geordies “live and breathe football” according to former England
captain Alan Shearer. That, and the fact that the city has only one
professional club, makes Newcastle United’s fan-base vast and immensely
passionate. Indeed, St James’ Park, the third biggest stadium in the
Premier League, is an incessant sell-out, and even during the Magpies’
Championship-winning campaign of 2009/10, it attracted an average
attendance of 43,000-plus, which easily broke the record for the
English second flight.
Newcastle, founded in 1892, were among the most dominant sides in
England before World War II, winning four league titles. And although
they have failed to add to that tally thereafter, they did lift the FA
Cup three times during the 1950s, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup – a
precursor to the UEFA Cup – in 1969, and finish runners-up to
Manchester United twice in the Premier League during the 1990s, when
the likes of Peter Beardsley, David Ginola, Faustino Asprilla, Les
Ferdinand and Shearer, for whom Newcastle broke the world transfer
record, established them as a revered thrill machine.
Newcastle share an intense rivalry with nearby Sunderland, while
Tyneside, of which Newcastle upon Tyne is a conurbation, is
distinguished for unearthing great footballers, including Jackie
Milburn, Sir Bobby Charlton, Norman Hunter, Chris Waddle, Beardsley,
Paul Gascoigne and Shearer.
St.
James' Park
|
PREVIOUS
WINNERS
  Great
Britain and Ireland - now represented separately by Team Ireland and
Team Great Britain - was one of three nations to play in the inaugural
football tournament, winning their only match to take the first Olympic
gold medal in football. They competed in the nine Olympics. In
1974 the FA abolished the distinction between "amateur" and
"professional" footballers in England. This ended the practice of
"shamateurism", where players claimed to be amateur but still got
irregular payments from their clubs. At that time the Olympics were
only open to amateur competitors, so the British Associations were no
longer able to enter a football team. Also, Great Britain is not
a member of FIFA and its athletes participate in international football
competitions as members of the national teams of the home nations
(England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), none of which have
National Olympic Committees. As a result, Great Britain usually does
not participate in Olympic qualifying tournaments.
Great Britain's Olympic football
teams will play their group matches at Old Trafford, Wembley and the
Millennium Stadium in 2012. The men's team, led by Stuart Pearce,
will play their three group fixtures in Manchester, London and
Cardiff. Hope
Powell's women will play their first two group matches in Cardiff and
the third in London.
TEAM GB GROUP FIXTURES
*
MEN
*
Old Trafford, 26 July
*
Wembley, 29 July
*
Millennium Stadium, 1 August
*
WOMEN
*
Millennium Stadium, 25 July
*
Millennium Stadium, 28 July
*
Wembley, 31 July
The men's team will
begin their London 2012 campaign at Old Trafford on Thursday, 26 July,
followed by Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 29 July and Cardiff's Millennium
Stadium on Wednesday, 1 August. The women's team will begin the
tournament on Wednesday, 25 July - the first day of Olympic action - at
the Millennium Stadium, followed by Saturday, 28 July at the same
venue. Their final group
stage match will take place on Tuesday, 31 July at Wembley.
|
Football will
be a major feature of the Olympic programme at London 2012. Beginning
with group matches and ending with a knockout phase, the competition
will offer all the drama that fans have come to expect from major
international tournaments. There will be two medal events at London
2012, one for men’s teams and one for women. Spread across six major grounds around the UK, the London
2012 Olympic Games Football competition promises plenty of excitement.
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