Germany will face Brazil in the gold medal match at the men’s Olympic football tournament following their 2-0 win against Nigeria at the Arena Corinthians on Wednesday in Sao Paulo.
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And the semifinal against Honduras was effectively over as a contest when Neymar scored the fastest goal in Olympic history after just 15 seconds; the Hondurans’ only hope had been to hang on, frustrate and catch Brazil on the break.
Gabriel Jesus, Neymar added two goals in the first half at the packed Maracana Stadium and Marquinhos and Luan scored a goal each in the second.
Luan’s lovely through ball was prodded past the helpless Lopez by Jesus for his second goal of the tournament on 26 minutes.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Despite all the talk at the Olympics about Brazil’s talented strikers, it’s the defense that’s holding the team together as the host tries to win the soccer gold medal for the first time.
The sides will meet on Saturday at Rio s iconic Maracana just two years after Germany inflicted Brazil s heaviest defeat of all time in a 7-1 thrashing in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals.
USA HOOPS: After meeting in the semifinals of the last three Olympics, the US men’s basketball team plays Argentina in the quarterfinals. In men’s singles, the two greatest players of their era – China’s Lin Dan and Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei – moved into the semi-finals where they will clash in a rematch of the last two Olympic finals, where Lin beat Lee for gold both times.
Brazilian sides were happy to let their players miss league duty to play in the Olympics because they are so desperate to win that one elusive title.
Brazil coach Rogerio Micale wants to understand how Neymar became “a monster” in order for the country to develop more players like him.
Asked how he would contain Neymar and Brazil’s attack, former forward Hrubesch said the hosts had worries of their own.
For the German squad, they do not have their usual superstars with them heading into the final as key players Mario Gotze, Mesut Ozil, Bastian Schweisteiger and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer all opted out of the 2016 Olympics. “Neymar is a guy who has a gift for playing football, who enchants”, the delighted coach said of his star man. He also added that: “We are mentally and emotionally ready to play at Maracana”.
Before Brazil and Germany take centre stage, there will be a significant match in Belo Horizonte earlier in the day, as Honduras and Nigeria play for the bronze medal. “If we can remain scoreless one more game, I’m sure we will be able to reach our goal of winning the gold”.
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Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos took advantage of some terrible Honduras marking to make it 4-0 six minutes into the second-half. “The Germans played well”, allnigeriasoccer.com quoted the Chelsea midfielder as saying at the press conference. Germany won 2-0 and will play the final ag.
