After a 1-1 draw over regulation and extra time, the Barcelona star stayed calm to stroke home the decisive kick, after Weverton saved from Nils Petersen in the only failure from the spot.
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Temer, who is deeply unpopular and widely seen as part of the corrupt elite entrenched in the capital Brasilia, hopes that football success in Rio’s Maracana stadium will lift the grim national mood – and his own chances in the top job.
Neymar was rested from that tournament with the goal of Olympic gold in mind and, on the biggest stage, he delivered. He lay on the ground for several long moments while they celebrated, sobbing. The U.S. medal haul also included Matthew Centrowitz winning the 1,500-meters – the first American to take gold in the event in more than 100 years.
“Neymar is an example for the other Brazilian players”.
So far Neymar had been the most active in the Brazilian team against a Germany with a strong defense – electrical, skilled and dynamic.
This is a player used to winning trophies on a regular basis with Barcelona but, like club-mate Lionel Messi, has had only limited success in global football. “Dedicated”, Micale said through a translator. “I finish this tournament with the best possible impressions of Neymar as do the team”. “The whole team does”.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Ask Brazilians what gold medal matters the most to them at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the answer is unequivocal: soccer.
The dominant USA women’s basketball team won a sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal in impressive fashion, routing Spain 101-72 on Saturday. The two-time Federation Internationale de Football Association coach of the year had long planned to step down following the Rio Games.
He pointed out that none of his players were involved in the World Cup semi-final – with the Olympic squads only able to feature three players aged older than 23.
Brazil has won first Olympics Men’s soccer gold medal in history.
Still, the Olympics started disastrously for the hosts.
Brazil, though, know all too well that such emotion is not always enough and Germany fired a warning shot in the 10th minute, with Julian Brandt curling a lovely strike that rattled both the crossbar and partisan crowd.
Unlike Neymar’s squad, the US women’s basketball team breezed through the tournament – make that six straight tournaments. Neymar was taunted with fans shouting Marta’s name at his matches, while Marta was honored with fans chanting “Better Than Neymar!” at hers.
Has Neymar made the right decision by stepping down as Brazi captain? Nigeria picked up the bronze in football earlier in the day as Sadiq Umar bagged a hat-trick in their 3-2 victory over Honduras. But in the 58th minute Germany let it be known it had every intention of spoiling the celebration when Maximillian Meyer booted a shot into the back of Brazil’s net. “Say something to the people and to the football community, by doing something different”, Micale said.
“We had this discussion and it wasn’t public at the time before”.
As for the comparison with Marta, that was unfair. “That’s the way we are”. “It was a disaster and we want revenge”, one said. We are a nation of extremes. People go back and forth. “I’m just so proud at this moment to be Brazilian”. And they were haunted by the indignity until Saturday night.
And it came two years after an embarrassing 7-1 home loss to Germany’s senior team in the World Cup semifinals, which also were held in Brazil.
Neymar, who skipped the Copa America to try to give the hosts the Olympic gold, avoided joining a long list stars who failed to win the gold for Brazil, including Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Saturday was the final Brazil’s World Cup never had in 2014.
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Hrubesch said it was not a bitter moment.
