After the match, some Honduran players were taking photos with Neymar on the field. It doesn’t matter that the venue is different and the squads are not at all the same (Olympic teams are nearly all under 23 years old).
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They will face Germany, who eased past 1996 champions Nigeria 2-0 in the other semi-final, and are in their first final appearance since the 1980 Moscow Games. For all its accomplishments and its reputation as the spiritual home of the handsome game, Brazil has never won gold in Olympic football. “What counts is this game, the Olympic final”, Hrubesch said.
However, the Germans compounded the Dream Team’ woes in the 89th minute when Nils Petersen scored the second after a cross from the right flank to rattle the Dream and Petersen effortlessly tapped the ball into the Nigerian net.
After Neymar’s early goal, Brazil was in control and Gabriel Jesus, one of Brazil’s most promising youngsters, added to Brazil’s lead in the 26th after a pass by Luan, hitting the net as the goalkeeper charged from the goal.
The hosts will be there, having secured their spot following a 6-0 thrashing of Honduras in Wednesday’s semi-final played on an unusually warm winter day in Rio that saw the boys in yellow produce a performance befitting the sunshine they were bathed in.
“Brazil are a very strong team. He has the gift of playing football, he delights everyone with his talent”, said coach Micale. “But we can not just forget our very essence and that we have players with the ability to change a game in one moment of brilliance”.
“That is why so many European teams come to get our players in South America”. Honduras striker Alberth Elis had tied that mark in a game against Portugal in the group stage at the Rio de Janeiro Games. The Germans scored five goals in the first two contests, but only managed draws in both matches. On the contrary, the Honduras team seems a little bit frustrated after the defeat with the score 6:0 to the Brazil team.
Germany have happier memories of the Maracana as they followed up their semi-final win by beating Lionel Messi’s Argentina to win the World Cup there two years ago. He also isn’t concerned with his young players playing in front of a large, hostile crowd.
(AP Photo/Leo Correa). Germany’s players celebrate after qualifying for the final at the end of a semifinal match of the men’s Olympic football tournament against Nigeria in Sao Paulo, Wednesday Aug. 17, 2016.
Saturday’s final will bring a lot of pressure, especially for Brazil.
Rai, a former Brazil global, said the home side would be under enormous pressure from the crowd but he believed they would win Brazil’s first Olympic football gold medal. He got back to play after 3 minutes.
But Micale said they won’t be focusing on that when they step out onto the pitch.
In reality, the similarities between that game and Saturday’s one don’t go much farther than the names on the tickets. “During the tournament there have been questions and doubts”.
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With the first leg – Sunday’s electric 100m win – secured, Bolt needs Thursday’s 200m final and the 4×100 relay to achieve what he refers to as “immortality”.
