Thiago Silva, Hulk make Brazil's Olympic squad

Sao Paulo: AC Milan defender Thiago Silva and FC Porto striker Hulk were named in the squad that will try to earn Brazil its first Olympic gold medal in football.

Real Madrid defender Marcelo was the other overage player included in the 18-man squad selected on Thursday by coach Mano Menezes for the London Games.

The Olympic tournament is the only significant football title that Brazil has never won. Brazil are one of the few teams taking their best players to London and it will be one of the gold-medal favourites. Many of the players are expected to be in the 2014 World Cup team, too.

As expected, Brazil has several promising young stars such as Neymar, Paulo Henrique Ganso, Leandro Damiao, Lucas, Oscar and Alexandre Pato.

Among those who didn't make the cut included Chelsea defender David Luiz, Barcelona right back Daniel Alves, and Espanyol forward Philippe Coutinho.

Past stars such as Kaka, Robinho and Ronaldinho had already been ruled out.

Menezes said Hulk was picked as one of the three over-23 players thanks in part because of his good performances in the four friendlies Brazil played recently.

"He brings a lot of strength to the team," Menezes said. "His experience will be important in big matches. He has a great ability to be decisive."

The coach said he felt it was important to include a striker among the three overage players.

Thiago Silva had been set to make the squad for some time, and Marcelo secured his spot after also playing well in the friendlies — victories against Denmark and the United States and losses to Mexico and Argentina.

Brazil won the Olympic silver in 1984 and 1988, and the bronze in 1996 and 2008, when Argentina took gold with a team led by Lionel Messi.

Brazil will travel to Europe on July 16 and will play a friendly against Olympic host Britain just days before its July 26 debut against Egypt at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Brazil will then play Belarus at Old Trafford on July 29 and New Zealand in Newcastle on Aug. 1 to close out its play in Group C.

Brazil squad:

Goalkeepers: Rafael (Santos), Neto (Fiorentina).

Defenders: Alex Sandro (FC Porto), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Danilo (FC Porto), Rafael (Manchester United), Bruno Uvini (Sao Paulo), Juan (Inter Milan), Thiago Silva (AC Milan).

Midfielders: Romulo (Spartak Moscow), Sandro (Tottenham), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos), Oscar (Internacional), Lucas (Sao Paulo).

Fowards: Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Hulk (FC Porto), Leandro Damiao (Internacional), Neymar (Santos).