Brazil upbeat about Paralympic soccer glory at Rio 2016

Brazil's seven-a-side Paralympic footballers said Sunday they are ready to end the dominance of Russia and Ukraine at the Rio 2016 Games.

Midfielder Wanderson Oliveira believes Brazil's recent results show they are equal favorites to win gold on home soil.

"I believe we are the strongest team in the world at the moment," Oliveira told Rio2016.com.

"Russia and Ukraine have been the best for best for many years, but the scene is changing. We are very confident for the world championship (in June this year) and the Paralympic Games.

"Ukraine and Russia are very methodological, very tactical, but us Brazilians always have a card up our sleeve. We can always produce a special move that makes a difference."

Ukraine and Russia have won two seven-a-side football gold medals each at the past four Paralympic Games.

But their dominance showed signs of coming to an end at the 2013 Intercontinental Cup in Barcelona. Brazil beat Russia 2-0 in the semifinals before losing the final 1-0 to Ukraine.

The team is now intent on going one step further at June's world championship in England and the Parapan American Games in Toronto in August.

Despite this year's tournaments, defender Diego Silva said he could not avoid thinking about the Paralympics.

"It will be amazing to play in front of our own fans," Silva said. "We're very confident and working hard to win the gold medal in 2016. Ukraine and Russia are very strong, very muscular, but we will use our Brazilian style - our skill and our passing."

Seven-a-side football is played by athletes with varying degrees of cerebral palsy. Brazil has won two Paralympic Games medals in the sport - bronze at the Sydney 2000 Games and silver four years later in Athens. Endi