LaLiga heads to Rio 2016

Although Spain will not participate in this year's Olympic football tournament, LaLiga will still be represented by seven LaLiga Santander and LaLiga 1|2|3 players at Rio 2016.

FC Barcelona duo Neymar and Rafinha will be in action in Rio de Janeiro for the hosts; Real Sociedad goalkeeper Gero Rulli and Atletico Madrid attacking midfielder Angel Correa will represent Argentina; R. Sporting midfielder Rachid will be in Brazil with Algeria; CD Tenerife forward Anthony Choco Lozano will be on the hunt for a medal with Honduras and Levante UD midfielder Jefferson Lerma will be eyeing success with Colombia.

The men's football action kicks off today, ahead of the Games' official opening ceremony tomorrow. Hosts Brazil have been drawn in Group A where their first fixture will be against South Africa, with Denmark and Iraq completing the group. Despite representing a country where the beautiful game borders on a religion, the Auriverdes have never been crowned Olympic football champions and are desperate to put that right this year. A Neymar-inspired team claimed a silver medal last time out, in London, and with home advantage on this occasion, they are certainly among the favourites for glory.

Rulli and Correa's Argentina are also serious contenders to scoop gold. La Albiceleste have won two of the last three editions of the tournament and return to the Olympic stage intent on making up for their absence in London. The Argentinians get their campaign underway against Portugal later today in a group that is rounded off by Lozano's Honduras and Rachid's Algeria.

Also among the medal hopefuls are Lerma's Colombia, who are up against Sweden, Japan and Nigeria in Group C. Meanwhile, Mexico will be bidding to retain the title they won four years ago. To do so, the holders will first have to advance from Group D, which contains London 2012 bronze medallists South Korea, as well as Germany and Fiji.