Brazil team to beat at Rio 2016, says USA captain

USA men's volleyball captain David Lee believes Brazil will be the team to beat at next year's Olympics despite his side's impressive recent record against the South Americans.

The USA beat Brazil 3-1 in the decider of last year's World League in Florence, a repeat of the 2008 Beijing Olympic final.

The last time the World League was staged in Rio was in 2008 when the USA beat Brazil 3-0 in the semifinals before overcoming Serbia in the final.

"It's going to be much more difficult playing here at the Maracanazinho - playing Brazil in Brazil is much more difficult than playing Brazil in, say, Florence last year, so we're going to have to be on our game to beat them, they are a very strong team," Lee told Rio2016.com.

Brazil have won nine World League titles compared to the USA's two, but the Americans have three Olympic crowns, one more than Brazil.

Lee said the Olympics had always been considered volleyball's most important international tournament for the USA.

"We prepare strictly for the Olympic Games, it's the pinnacle of our sport," the 33-year-old said, adding that team cohesion would be the key to success in Rio.

"We've won before with a team that was very tight, and very experienced, a very old team. Now we have a lot more youth and it's going to be a whole different road for us to win."

The USA team is in Rio for the World League final round, which doubles as an official Olympic test event. Endi