“It is a different time with different players and ages”. Honduras came up against a Brazil side desperate to reach the final at the Maracana and it only took 15 seconds for Neymar to open the scoring. “Everything is in our favour as we are at home in Brazil”.
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Goals by Lukas Klostermman (after only nine minutes) and Nils Petersen (on 90 minutes) dashed Nigeria’s dream of playing in the final match with an opportunity to win the gold medal 20 years after her historic triumph in Atlanta, United States of America.
Brazil captain Neymar is the only player on either squad to have played in the last World Cup and he missed the semi-final through injury.
The Olympic men’s soccer finals will be held at Rio’s iconic Maracana Stadium.
Honduras made it to the Olympic semifinals for the first time by eliminating two-time champion Argentina in the group stage and South Korea in the quarterfinals, but its inexperienced team never had a chance against Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro: The chance to make history by winning Brazil’s long-awaited first football gold medal will override desire for revenge insists Brazil coach Rogerio Micale ahead of Saturday’s final against Germany at Rio’s Maracana.
They were beaten by Mexico 2-1 on the night and lost out, just as they had done in the World Cup semi-finals in 2014. “He has the gift of playing football, he delights everyone with his talent”, according to ABC. “Now is the time for the gold medal”, said Rai, who helped Brazil win the 1994 World Cup.
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Neymar’s road to redeeming Brazilian football hasn’t always been smooth, but the Barcelona star now has the scene he craved to deliver a first football gold medal for the Olympic hosts.
Neymar hits a free-kick from 25 yards, gets it over and around the wall and the ball strikes the back of the net.
Nevertheless, there is an epic quality to Saturday’s encounter because even if men’s football at the Olympics is something of a lie, it is a useful one for two reasons. He is living through a positive period as opposed to a week ago, when there was a lot of demands and pressure on him.
The national Under-23 team coach Samson Siasia retained Emmanuel Daniel in goal with Sincere Seth, Stanley Amuzie, Shehu Abdullahi and William Troost-Ekong were in defence.
Brazil’s team includes Marquinhos from PSG, Gabriel Jesus, who signed for Manchester City last month for 27 million pounds and Gabriel Barbosa, who goes by the nickname Gabigol.
“God willing, we are going to reverse that score line”.
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Also parading the stars and stripes were long-jumpers Tianna Bartoletta and Brittney Reese, who finished 1-2; steeplechaser Evan Jager, who won silver earlier in the day; and Tori Bowie, who added a 200-meter bronze to her silver in the 100.
