Hosts Brazil have ghosts to lay to rest when the Olympic football tournament gets the Rio 2016 Games under way later today.

Two years after the nation wept at the sight of a stricken Neymar exiting the World Cup on a stretcher and the 7-1 semi-final capitulation to Germany which followed, the hosts have the chance to ease those painful memories over the next two-and-a-half weeks.

Neymar, the Barcelona forward, is back again to carry the hopes of the country as one of his side’s three over-age players.

On the women’s side, for Neymar read Marta, the five-time women’s footballer of the year dubbed ‘Pele in a skirt’ by the man himself, who is also yet to win a major global trophy.

Neither Brazil’s men’s or women’s teams have ever won an Olympic title. The men’s team have reached the final three times, losing to Mexico four years ago with a teenage Neymar in the side, while the women took silver in 2004 and 2008.

INFOGRAPHICS: Goals scored with Brazil and career titles won between Neymar and Marta #NeyMarta [globo] pic.twitter.com/1la63KNRVr

— FC Barcelona Fl (@FCBarcelonaFl) August 2, 2016

But there will be an expectation on both to reach the finals at the Maracana – and perhaps go one better than before.

The women kick off their campaign against China at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday, two days before the opening ceremony, with Sweden and South Africa the other two teams in their group.

Those sides will meet in the first action of the Games, directly before Brazil take to the field.

The United States are the defending women’s champions and will be bidding for a fifth gold medal in six Games.

Brazil’s men start their campaign against South Africa in Brazilia on Thursday, with Denmark and Iraq the other teams in their group.

There are no British teams in Rio, unlike at London 2012.