LONDON: Team GB have will open up against last-minute qualifiers Senegal in their controversial bid to win Olympic football gold for the first time in exactly a century at London 2012 this summer.

Also in their Group A will be the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay – in the finals for the first time since they won gold in 1928.

The draw for the men’s and women’s tournaments was overseen by FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke assisted by ex-Wales midfielder Robbie Savage, pop singer Melanie C, ex-Scotland striker Kevin Gallacher, England women’s star Kelly Smith and Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning top scorer Ronaldo.

However, the opening match of all will be in the women’s tournament. This will see Britain face New Zealand in Cardiff’s Millenium Stadium on July 25 – two days before the official Opening Ceremony. Of particular concern to coach Hope Powell will be the fact that Brazil – silver medallists last time in 2008 – were drawn into the same group E.

Since the football tournament is all one sport the men’s four groups are labelled from A to D with the women’s three groups from E to G.

Men’s draw

Group A: Britain, Senegal, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay

Group B: Mexico, South Korea, Gabon, Switzerland  

Group C: Brazil, Egypt, Belarus, New Zealand

Group D: Spain, Japan, Honduras, Morocco. 

Women’s draw

Group E: Great Britain, New Zealand, Cameroon, Brazil  

Group F: Japan, Canada, Sweden, South Africa

Group G: United States, France, Colombia, North Korea.

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