Great Britain Olympic Soccer: Failure Is Not an Option Against Senegal

London 2012 has not been far from the thoughts of the British public, in one way or another, since back in 2005, when the country was awarded the right to host the Olympic Games.

With the darn thing actually beginning this week, most of those thoughts are now focused on what the whole fuss was about in the first place—sports!

While there is much discussion over the hopes and ambitions of Team GB's swimmers, cyclists and track and field stars, the men's competition of the nation's favorite sport is struggling for attention.

Kind of.

Great Britain is not entirely without history in Olympic soccer (they won gold in 1908 and 1912), but having not entered a team since the 1960 edition, the tournament quite naturally fell off the radar of most on the British Isles.

With increasing amounts of television time dedicated to the Olympics as a whole in recent decades (BBC and Eurosport broadcast here), soccer has not been out of reach to fans of the sport. However, with no team to cheer on, it has escaped the attention of the larger masses.

As mentioned, in the run-up to London 2012, the prospective fortunes of the returning Team GB have not captured the imagination of the nation as a whole.

This was dealt a further blow by the decision of manager Stuart Pearce not to select David Beckham as one of his three allotted over-23 players in his squad of 18. The presence of the Olympic ambassador and LA Galaxy celebrity was deemed inevitable by most since after his England career came to an underwhelming end.

Yet, ahead of Team GB's opening Group A match versus Senegal, there is reason to suggest that progression in the tournament could soon see the British people as a whole warm up to the squad (though possibly not the Scottish and Northern Irish, who have no players in the men's squad).

This is because many football fans at least seem keen to support a group of players they would invariably be cheering on in if they were in British colors, with the stadiums for each of GB's games all but sold out.

Regardless of the lack of recent pedigree in this specific tournament, it still presents a chance to cheer on their countrymen competing for honors in their favourite sport.

But, this is partially on the basis that this team is at least capable of competing in the tournament. That makes victory vital against a Senegal side that is not especially remarkable and is not at full strength.

With the beginning of the football season proper just weeks away now, fans will quickly turn their attention to the preseason endeavors of their club teams if they don't believe Team GB are taking this seriously.

It means the onus is certainly on several of the squad's more experienced and recognised campaigners to shine.

For Welsh duo Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy, two players called upon (to a certain extent) at the expense of Beckham, the opportunity to compete on an international stage cannot be wasted.

Especially for Giggs, who is playing at his home ground Old Trafford. He must set the tone the best he can.

If these two can get on the ball and run at the Senegalese early, threaten their defence and give them a reason to feel intimidated by their status as two stars of the Premier League, the crowd and their teammates will inevitably follow this lead in a most positive fashion.

At 38, Giggs cannot impact a game for as long as he once did, but his biggest duty could be to lead by example and settle the nerves of those around him.

Despite a relatively underwhelming display in the warm-up match against Brazil, there was enough on show from the British (in addition to prior knowledge) to suggest that this is a team more than capable of progressing.

Jack Butland impressed in goal after coming on at the Riverside, making several good saves against an attack that was more dangerous than a Senegalese offense that will be lacking the Newcastle pair Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba.

Senegal do possess an attacking threat in Dame N'Doye, a former FC Copenhagen striker who will ensure that a probable defensive pairing of Micah Richards and Steven Caulker do not shirk their marking responsibilities.

Tom Cleverley, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen will likely make up Pearce's midfield—a combination that does have some defensive concerns but can keep hold of the ball, tire out their opponents and provide service for their frontmen.

New West Ham United signing Mohamed Diame will not let them have their own way, but if they can play with the confidence that their superiority should ensure, they should make swift work of them.

Along with Giggs and Bellamy, much of Team GB's attacking threat will have to come through Daniel Sturridge.

The Chelsea forward was a tad unfortunate to miss out on a place in England's Euro 2012 squad, but he'll have a chance to truly prove his credentials.

Sturridge is skillful, pacy and possesses a wicked shot. He is a forward that genuinely has the ability to help his team progress at least beyond the group stage.

To discount Senegal completely would be foolish, but if Team GB can pool their effective (if not especially outstanding) resources together, there should be enough there to outplay the African side.

British football fans believe enough is there for them to come to Old Trafford (and later Wembley and the Millennium Stadium) to take a look.

It is up to the team now to take advantage of this home support and do enough to show the rest of the British public that Olympic soccer is just as worthy of their attention as the rest of the Games.