Brazil forward Neymar will step down as the national team captain after leading his side to football gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
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He turned to run in delight but did not get far, instead sinking to his knees in tears as the stadium, and the nation outside, erupted in a frenzy of celebration at Brazil’s first Olympic men’s soccer gold medal. Now the gold was his, Brazil’s first in Olympic history, and the whole nation was there to share his happiness.
Italy had been more than twice as efficient as Brazil in spiking but their errors proved costly with their patchy display summed up by Zaytsev ploughing his serve into a team-mate on set point.
It however, paid off when Meyer equalised through a loose ball. He had scored on a dazzling free kick in the 26th minute of the first half, putting his team up 1-0, though Germany had come back in the second half to tie the game on a goal from Max Meyer.
Meyer nearly responded immediately for Germany, first inadvertently with a free-kick of his own that was deflected amongst a crowd of players in the box before finding its way onto the Brazil crossbar once again, and then with a volley from the resulting corner, which was well saved by goalkeeper Weverton down to his right. GOAL! Brazil wins in a fashion you couldn’t even write the script for the star scores the first goal, and the game winning goal Brazil are the champions of soccer and the champions of their country’s Olympics viva la Brazil.
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“I’m Brazilian, with much pride and much love”, a chant from Antunes’ group proclaimed in Portuguese.
In a victory that also partially helped reduce some of the heartache from the 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany in the World Cup two summers ago, Neymar took centre stage.
“This is one of the best things that have happened in my life”, the Barcelona forward said.
Neymar, who was quite emotional after this memorable victory, said he did not have words to describe his feeling.
In the 77th minute, Neymar played Felipe Anderson in on goal with a through pass but the substitute was caught from behind by Germany defenders.
Goalkeeper Weverton was full of praise for the boy turn legend saying: “God has blessed me”. Olympic soccer features under-23 teams while the World Cup is for the top national squad.
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The 24-year-old also announced that he no longer wished to continue as the Seleção’s captain, and said that he would ask the manager to appoint someone else.
