While the gold medal game ended well for Brazil, providing a modicum of revenge for the 7-1 loss to Germany at the 2014 World Cup – a match in which Neymar didn’t feature due to injury – the team endured a hard tournament.
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That decision has now paid off as Neymar scored a golden penalty that ensured Brazil claimed their first Olympic Football Tournament gold in the most dramatic of finals. The scores remained level through to the conclusion of 90 minutes and extra-time, sending the final to be decided from the spot.
Brazil defeated Germany in the final, 5-4 via penalty shootout.
Apart from the Max Meyer goal that cancelled out Neymar’s free kick, they hit the bar three times in the first half, and Julian Brandt posed a repeated threat in attack, including with an extra-time volley attempt.
For Brazil, the win goes some way to eradicating the painful memories of their home World Cup two years ago when they were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals.
Despite this criticism, Neymar will be etched into history as the man who led Brazil to Olympic gold for the first time in men’s football.
“This is one of the best things that has happened in my life”, said Neymar.
Dzsenifer Maroszan gathered a cross ball on the edge of the box and had time to steady herself before curling a ideal strike into the top right-hand corner of the net. Brazil won the gold medal on penalty shoot-out.
Goalkeeper Weverton was full of praise for Neymar, saying: “God has blessed me”.
Neymar, who has has won the Confederations Cup with Brazil and the Champions League with Barcelona, said: “I do not like to put one title above the other – every competition I contest and win is important”.
“I don’t have any words to describe it properly, but when you reach your goal it is just that moment of pure joy”, said Neid, who will next work as a scout for the team.
“Today I have become a champion, and I give up the captain’s armband”, Neymar said in an interview with SporTV.
Sweden cut the deficit in half in the 66th minute, with Blackstenius meeting a cross to make it 2-1. Brazil made theirs 1-1.
In 2014 when Neymar was injured, the resulting histrionics from the Brazil side heavily contributed to their defeat.
It is for that reason that Neymar was selected for the Games instead of the Copa America – where Brazil crashed out at the group stages – back in June.
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Neymar then took a halted run-up and blasted the ball into the back of the net before falling to his knees in joyous tears.
