“We are only thinking about working as hard as we have been until now so that we can win the gold medal”.
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Brazil’s celebrated men’s soccer team rolled to a 6-0 win over Honduras in the semifinals Wednesday to earn a spot in the gold medal match.
A nation expected and Brazil delivered, with Neymar netting after just 15 seconds to set the hosts on their way to a huge win. The Barcelona player was on the 2012 team that lost the Olympic final to Mexico in London.
“We know the pressure we are under”, Micale said. “We don’t want to disappoint the fans”. They will play Germany’s Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst. Neymar’s brilliant display against Honduras helped Brazil reach Saturday’s final against Germany.
“Hey Germany, just wait, your turn is coming up!” a fired-up fan base chanted. Two of the country’s best chances remaining to reach the top of the podium were competing Wednesday, with the men’s soccer team in the afternoon and Agatha and Barbara scheduled to go for gold in beach volleyball just before midnight.
A football gold holds extra significance for soccer-mad Brazil, who have never previously managed to claim more than silver.
Honduras knocked the ball back from the kick-off, but Neymar caught Johnny Palacios in possession on the edge of the box and bravely challenged the keeper to bundle the ball into the net.
After Wednesday’s game, Brazil coach Rogerio Micale tried to explain what Neymar means to the team. “It helped us break the game open and it made everything easier”.
Honduras came into the game with high hopes after surviving a group that included Argentina and Portugal.
In other competition across Rio, Spain beat France, 92-67, to bring to an end Tony Parker’s Olympic career and Australia beat Lithuania, 90-64, in the quarterfinals of the men’s basketball tournament.
Neymar scored three goals, had three assists and punctuated the Brazilian party with a penalty kick in added time.
Luan’s lovely through ball was prodded past the helpless Lopez by Jesus for his second goal of the tournament on 26 minutes.
The hosts will head into the final against either their World Cup tormentors Germany or Nigeria having scored 12 goals and conceded none.
Brazil continued to dominate after the Paris Saint-Germain defender’s strike and Luan eventually got a deserved goal in the 79th minute, before Neymar converted a penalty in the dying minutes to double his personal tally as Micale’s men booked their ticket for the final in style.
However, Honduras Coach Jorge Luis Pinto believes Neymar’s star billing offered him too much protection.
After the match, some Honduran players were taking photos with Neymar on the field.
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After two terrible performances against South Africa and Iraq – two scoreless ties – Brazil has scored 12 goals and the team finally seems to have gelled.
