“We showed a lot of patience, that was important and the fantasy arrived”, said Barbosa, a top target for a host of European clubs including Premier League champions Leicester City.
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The Summer Olympics continue as the soccer prelminaries heat up when host Brazil takes on Denmark as part of the Rio Games in Group A prelminary action.
Barcelona star Neymar is still yet to hit the net, but he played the role of facilitator as Gabriel Jesus and Luan were also on target to end a run of over 200 minutes without a goal after stalemates with Iraq and South Africa raised fears of an embarrassing early exit.
The 24-year-old drew a blank against the South Africa under-23 side and then did the same against Iraq.
The quarter final fixtures to be played are Portugal vs Germany, Nigeria vs Denmark, South Korea vs Honduras and Brazil vs Colombia.
It passed Group A with five points, one more than Denmark, which also advanced and will play Nigeria. Gabigol’s second goal came with a shot off a rebound in the 80th.
Neymar, who had been heckled by some fans after struggling in the first two games, played better and was much more involved in the game.
Argentina finished third in Group D after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Honduras, while Mexico were beaten 1-0 by South Korea. They beat Sweden scoring a total number of five goals. It was another blow to Argentine soccer following the senior team’s loss in the Copa America final in June and the ongoing crisis enveloping the sport at home.
Confidence will now be in short supply in coach Samson Siasia’s team after the way and manner they lost to Colombia and this will most certainly not be helped by the fact that in June they fell badly to the Danes 6-2 at the Suwon worldwide Tournament in South Korea.
In other quarterfinals, Portugal battle Germany in Brasilia and Korea Republic take on surprise team Honduras in Belo Horizonte.
Reigning champions Mexico and Argentina each bowed out of the competition on Wednesday, while Germany progressed courtesy of a 10-0 trouncing of Fiji.
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All quarterfinal matches will be on Saturday.
