Team GB squad and their chances at the London 2012 Olympics

13 Englishmen and 5 Welshmen have been named by Team GB manager Stuart Pearce in his 18 man squad for the summer 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Interestingly, Pearce has not picked any Scottish or Northern Irish players for the tournament, and has even left out one of Great Britain's figureheads for the Olympic Games bid, David Beckham. Leaving Beckham out of the side has left pundits having mixed feelings about Pearce, and his choice to select Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards as his three over twenty three players. Pearce confirmed there was no political pressure on him to select Beckham for his Team GB Olympic squad - and that he would not have accepted the job if there had been.

Swansea have three players named, the most of any club - Scott Sinclair, Joe Allen and Neil Taylor, while Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, who has been included, also played his football in Cardiff last year at the Liberty Stadium for the Swans. 

Other notable names that have been selected to play for Team GB include Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge, who many considered to be unlucky to miss out on the England team for the European championships that have just passed. 

Manchester United's up and coming star Tom Cleverley is one of the central midfielders to get the nod from Stuart Pearce.

Arsenal's Welshman Aaron Ramsey is also in the squad and bidding for a start in Team GB's opening game after stellar performances this year for Arsenal. 

London 2012 will be the first time that Team GB have competed in the men's football competition since the 1960 Games in Rome.

Team GB kick off their Olympic campaign in Manchester at Manchester United's stadium Old Trafford, against Senegal on July 26, before playing the United Arab Emirates at Wembley on July 29 and Uruguay at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on August 1.

Team GB Squad

• Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Birmingham City) and Jason Steele (Middlesbrough)
  
• Defenders: Micah Richards (Manchester City), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Neil Taylor (Swansea), James Tomkins (West Ham), Craig Dawson (West Brom), Jack Cork (Southampton) and Stephen Caulker (Tottenham)
  
• Midfielders:Joe Allen (Swansea), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham) and Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
  
• Forwards: Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), Scott Sinclair (Swansea), Marvin Sordell (Bolton) and Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea)
  

Analysis of squad

The set of players that Pearce has chosen to represent Great Britain looks very promising as we have great experience in players such as Giggs and Bellamy as well as a lot of potential from players like Sturridge, Cleverley and Allen. Team GB's only problem could lie in not having an experienced, commanding centre-half in the squad and this could be a problem if we encounter any world class opposition.

Prediction

If our young players can step up to the big stage and our older, more experienced players can lead the field and show the younger players the ropes, I can see Team GB getting a medal at the Olympics this year.

Team GB will finish: 2^nd/3^rd Place

Please leave your comments below on your views about Pearce's selections and what round you think Team GB will reach this year.