Ronaldinho says Brazil will blend youth and experience

Ronaldinho said on Thursday that Brazil will blend youth and experience as the 'auriverde' bid for a first Olympic football gold.

“There are many young players who have a lot of experience and I think that will make the difference for us,” Ronaldinho, who has just left Barcelona for AC Milan, said ahead of a warm-up Friday against the Vietnamese national side in Hanoi.

Despite five World Cups, when it comes to the Olympics Brazil have been found wanting with runner-up finishes in 1984 and 1988 and a bronze medal in 1996.

“We have let many chances (of gold) slip,” Ronaldinho observed as he trained at the My Dinh stadium in Hanoi, the squad having arrived in Vietnam from Singapore on Tuesday.

“Many good teams have played the Olympics and we have never managed to win it,” he added.

“Now we have the oportunity – we have a very good team.”

He added the side would do all it could “to win a medal that is important for us.”