Such a great football nation that loves and cheers for its players. you just have to love Brazil.
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But the Olympic Games tournament has always eluded them, a stain on their record, and a nation that pays little or no attention to sports such as diving, race walking or badminton wanted this gold medal more than any other.
The lingering pain from that 1950 loss bequeathed the Brazilian language a new word, “Maracanazo”.
However, so wounded was Brazil’s pride that another capitulation on home soil was unimaginable.
The women’s soccer tournament at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics had a little bit of everything and Hope Solo. Fans booed her mercilessly and hollered “Zika!” each time she kicked downfield.
Both teams pressed and probed as the contested drifted into extra time, but the exertions of that energy-sapping opening hour had taken their toll after another sticky night in Rio.
Solo’s comments drew a rebuke from her own federation and the International Olympic Committee.
Controversy aside, the early USA expulsion from the tournament was shocking.
Brazilian fans, however, have been looking forward to the rematch against the Germans, even if it’s in a tournament played mostly with youth squads and without the same importance as the World Cup.
Triathlon victor: The U.S. had never won an Olympic triathlon gold medal. He had two goals – including one only 15 seconds into the match for the fastest goal in Olympic history.
Before the national anthems had been sung, the stadium reverberated to the sound of one man’s name. The two-time Federation Internationale de Football Association coach of the year had long planned to step down following the Rio Games.
Serbia beat Croatia 11-7 to win the country’s first Olympic gold in men’s water polo. “I think the natural step for him now is to win a World Cup and he is going to fight for it, he has the attributes”, he said.
Sweden claimed the silver and Canada won its second straight Olympic bronze medal with a 2-1 victory over host Brazil in Sao Paulo.
The home of “Jogo Bonito” is considered by many to be the most powerful soccer nation in the world. He scored the winning goal against Germany in the finals.
The scores remained level as extra-time came and went, but Die Mannschaft would not secure silverware at the ground that witnessed both their 2014 World Cup triumph and women’s gold the previous day.
According to reports in Brazil, the Barcelona forward had an issue with the pair after he demanded a foul in the first half near the touchline.
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“This is one of the best things that has happened in my life”, Neymar said of scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout to win the gold medal.
