The 24-year-old Neymar took on the responsibility of trying to restore the nations soccer pride after the recent disappointments, but was criticized by some for spending time on vacation and not arriving for the tournament as prepared as other players.
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Fans at the National Stadium in Brasilia singled out midfielder Renato Augusto for particular ire, booing his every touch as the game moved into the last 30 minutes.
Felipe Anderson of Brazil fights for the ball with Sherko Kareem and Amjed Attwan of Iraq. “So much enthusiasm. And I think her teammates thrive off that passion”, United States goalkeeper Solo said.
Portugal snatched their second consecutive win to advance to the quarter-finals, beating Honduras 2-1 in Group D. In the same group, Argentina beat Algeria 2-1, thereby eliminating the beaten team. The sold out match was heavily in favor of Brazil, but after the 20th minute, the fans quickly changed from supportive to more disdain.
Brazil will need to beat Denmark in the final match of the group. Carli Lloyd scored the game-winner in extra time for the Americans, but it was Solo that fended off a point-blank shot from Marta in the 72nd minute.
In the early days of the Olympics, the big moments are often yet to come to the fore. Solo came out the victor on penalty kicks after a dramatic 2-2 draw.
The Mexicans brought a strong squad to defend their Olympic title, led by Pachuca striker Hirving Lozano, the only under-23 player on the Mexico team in the Copa America, and forward Oribe Peralta, who scored four goals in the team’s winning campaign in London. “That’s a compliment to her”, Solo said Monday. The victory is not actually essential to gain, but let’s put our hopes that the players will do their best. “So I’m very aware that we have to pay extra attention to her”. They scored style points along the way, too, setting up one goal on Sunday with a pair of back-heel flicks. Not to mention the 2014 World Cup at home.
But what Marta doesn’t have in her storied career is a major global title.
Denmark top the group with four points after Robert Skov’s 69th-minute victor gave them a 1-0 victory over South Africa.
However, American keeper Hope Solo made a huge save to deny Marie Laure Delie on her 200th worldwide appearance.
The women’s game is never broadcast, there is no national championship for women and neither Brazil’s Ministry of Sports nor the Brazilian Football Confederation were able to provide statistics on the number of clubs, teams, leagues or schools for female players. Denmark, who drew with Iraq 0-0 in the first mnatch, have four points after two matches.
For her part, Marta has shrugged it off, sidestepping it as neatly as she sidesteps defenders on the pitch. Her focus is elsewhere.
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We apologise to the fans, to the people of Brasilia who filled the stadium to support the team, but we didn’t manage to give them a response. “The opponent knows that we are under pressure and they can use that against us”.
