RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil coach Mano Menezes named Porto striker Hulk and two defenders on Thursday (Friday, PHL time) as his three permitted over-age players for the Olympic soccer tournament at the London Games.

AC Milan's Thiago Silva and Real Madrid left back Marcelo were also selected, after defeats in internationals warmups last month against Mexico and Argentina highlighted Brazil's problems in finding decent defensive players under 23 years old.

Even with captain Thiago Silva and Marcelo in the team, Brazil suffered from center back Juan's inexperience in a 2-0 loss to the Mexicans.

The problems were even greater when Thiago Silva missed the game against Argentina through injury, with youngsters Bruno Uvini and Juan in central defence exposed by Lionel Messi and his team mates in a 4-3 defeat.

The 18-man squad was announced by Menez in a Rio de Janeiro hotel, with Santos striker Neymar, 20, standing out as the ace in the pack.

Menezes had been expected to include Chelsea center back David Luiz, rather than a forward, as his third over-age player to partner Thiago Silva in the middle of the back line.

"I think the Brazil team will be stronger with a [over-age] player outside the defensive system," Menezes told a news conference.

Named after the TV superhero for his muscular physique, the 25-year-old Hulk is one of the leading strikers in Europe and scored twice in Brazil's 3-1 win over Denmark in a warmup game in May.

Turning to his defense, Menezes said: "I don't think the issues that arose against Argentina will be repeated with such frequency as they did in that game, because Messi won't be at the Olympics.

"We won't face a player who picks up the ball in midfield and destroys defensive systems individually and finishes in the way he does."

Brazil, top seeds in Group C and seeking their first Olympic soccer gold medal, kick off against Egypt on July 26 (July 27, PHL time), before playing Belarus on July 29 (July 30, PHL time) and New Zealand on August 1 (August 2, PHL time) to complete the group phase.

They will play another warmup against Olympic hosts Britain in Middlesbrough on July 20 (July 21, PHL time). - Reuters