Like the fans, he also expects Neymar to deliver.
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“It’s easy when you get to play with Neymar and Gabriel Jesus by your side”, Gabigol said. He is appreciated, he’s a good guy with a huge heart especially around the younger players.
Brazil’s men’s soccer team is betting on a talented trio of attacking players to try to finally break through and win Olympic gold.
No matter how many great players Brazil have thrown at the contest over the years – Ronaldo, Romario, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos – they have always come up short.
Memories of Brazil’s disappointing 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign are still fresh in a football-mad country and the decision of star forward Neymar to miss the 2016 Copa America in order to be an over-age player at Rio 2016 is a statement of intent.
But the Brazilian people have so much to crib about, they can’t care less about Neymar and his men’s failure with the ball. Their cumulative haul stands at two bronzes and three silvers, the most recent of them at London 2012, when a Neymar-inspired Brazil were stunned 2-1 by Mexico at Wembley.
However, Brazil are strong favourites to end their wait as on top of home advantage, they also possess by far the strongest squad on paper.
The signs are positive, in particular in attack where wonder kids Gabriel Barbosa and Gabriel Jesus, both tipped to make big-money moves to Europe from Santos and Palmeiras respectively after the Games, will support Neymar in attack.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos and Neymar’s Barcelona teammate Rafinha are also in the squad to provide valuable experience.
Brazil opens group play in the 16-team field at 3 p.m. Thursday against South Africa on the eve of the Opening Ceremonies.
Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa and Giovanni Simeone, son of Atletico boss Diego, formed a lethal partnership in scoring 13 goals to win the 2015 South American U-20 Championships to qualify.
Los Albicelestes still can not be discounted in group D. They face Honduras, Algeria and Portugal, whose senior team have just won the 2016 UEFA European Championships. Brazil’s group also includes Iraq and Denmark.
“I’m still young and you have to take the chances offered to you”. The 19-year-old striker said he was ashamed and wouldn’t sleep at night because of the miss.
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Group B appears the closest to call as Sweden, Colombia, Nigeria and Japan all start with realistic ambitions of reaching the quarter-finals.
