Team GB vs Senegal: Match Preview

26 July 2012 09:59
The first major test of Stuart Pearce's Team GB comes tonight at Old Trafford in the form of Senegal.

Team GB have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the Group A encounter, with Daniel Sturridge fully fit after suffering from meningitis.

Birmingham City goalkeeper Jack Butland is likely to start in-between the sticks ahead of Jason Steele after impressing during the second half of the 2-0 defeat to Brazil.

Pearce could however stick with the same outfield XI which started the game at the Riverside Stadium on Friday.

Ryan Giggs will continue to lead the team and should play alongside Joe Allen and Tom Cleverley in the middle of the park.

Craig Bellamy will join Sturridge in attack, while Pearce will have selection issues at the back in deciding if it should be James Tomkins or Steven Caulker to partner Micah Richards at centre-back.

The Great Britain boss is also aware of issues surrounding interest in the tournament.

Pearce thinks interest in the team could grow once people are aware of the talent GB has to offer.

"If I roll the clock back a calendar year, I was fortunate to go with England to Colombia for the Under-20s World Cup," he said.

"We played a group match against Argentina in front of 44,000 people. The standard was fantastic, the tournament and the exposure were fantastic. Very few people in England knew there was a tournament going on.

"That is how we underestimate tournaments.

"The same will apply to the Olympics."Once it gets started and they see the magnitude of the teams, the professionalism and the standard of football they will see, they will sit up and take notice."

Great Britain's opponents Senegal have a fully-fit squad to select from.

West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame is the most recognisable name in the Senegal team, having spent three seasons in the Premier League with Wigan Athletic.

Ibrahima Balde should lead the line for the Lions after he scored the decisive goal against Oman to book their place at the games.

Source: DSG