The Brazilians were booed off after successive 0-0 draws against South Africa and Iraq, much of their anger targeted on Neymar and Renato Augusto, two of the three over-age players permitted. “We want to reach the final six months without going through another 11-and-a-half years”.
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Brazil coach Rogerio Micale took issue with fan criticism of Neymar and the struggles the men’s team have been having since Olympic soccer got underway. That fate is unthinkable to many in the country who are still reeling from their 7-1 demolition at the hands of Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and a defeat tomorrow could be the final nail in the coffin for a nation where soccer has been nearly a birthright from its inception. But things have not gotten any better since.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa scored and set up Jonathan Calleri’s victor as 10-man Argentina avoided adding an early Olympic Games exit to Copa America heartbreak with a 2-1 win over Algeria. Rogerio Micale, who held the role in preparation for the event, was instead given the sizable responsibility of delivering the one major worldwide prize to elude the five World Cup winners. As you can imagine, fans are getting a bit sick of the lackluster performances and overall poor year for the team, which was also knocked out of the Copa America in the group stage. Micale, though, insists his team can still answer its critics.
“We need to attack and score goals against Iraq, that is the only way we can qualify”.
They were invoking the Brazilian captain Marta Vieira da Silva (known universally here just as Marta), widely considered the best female player in the world, and comparing her to the captain of the men’s side, Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. The world has evolved a lot, everyone has lots of information now.
Barcelona superstar Neymar, the tournament’s biggest star, played below expectations for the second straight game.
“We ask the team to be determined, compact and look for the ball, to find that confidence, we haven’t found that yet”.
All four nations are gunning for at least two wins to bolster their chances to progress to the next stage. We do not run away from that.
The Brazillians, who were pre-tournament favourites by the bookmakers to win the gold medal have been disappointing and they were held to a 0-0 draw with Iraq last Sunday at the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha.
SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) – Leave him alone.
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BRASILIA, Brazil The frustration with Brazils soccer team is so great that fans are jeering Neymar and wishing womens star Marta could come to the rescue. The host may just be able to sneak out a vital win.
