He opened the scoring with a sensational first-half free-kick before Max Meyer’s equaliser sent the game into extra-time and eventually penalties. And once the ball hit the back of the goal, that’s just where they were.
Advertisement
In the men’s singles event in badminton, World No.1 and three-time finalist Lee Chong Wei once again suffered a heartbreak in the final after World No.2 Chen Long of China defeated him in straight sets.
“I don’t have words to say anything”, Neymar said later, sobbing.
Neymar scored with a superb free kick in regulation and converted the decisive penalty in the shootout after Brazilian goalkeeper Weverton stopped Nils Petersen’s shot.
“Obviously this tournament had a special meaning for Brazil”, Neymar said.
The men’s football tournament attracted most of the attention of Brazilian fans at the Olympics. It is their main man Neymar, however, that leaves one hard question left for Brazilians to ask: is this team too dependent on one player?
“This is something completely new, so this is definitely a new summit for German women’s football”, said Germany coach Silvia Neid, who is retiring after the Olympics. “I think the natural step for him now is to win a World Cup and he is going to fight for it, he has the attributes”, he said.
In contrast to the huge crowds the five-time world champions men attract, Brazil’s women, who have never won a major tournament, have traditionally failed to catch the public’s imagination.
The final Olympic football standing finished with Brazil winning gold, Germany with Silver, and Nigeria with Bronze. It’s unfair to compare this modern Brazil side with the great teams of the 60s and 70s, but you can see the difference in style between the two.
“Beloved nation, the gold is ours”, Brazilian goalie Weverton said.
It’s not certain what the 24-year-old was so unhappy about but it has been suggested his reaction may have been as a result of the stick he received in Brazil’s opening games in Rio.
This encounter offered a chance to both make amends and history, with this the hosts’ grand finale despite the closing ceremony taking place at the same venue the following night.
Brazil arrived as the main title-favorite but struggled in the beginning, being held to scoreless draws against South Africa and Iraq and becoming in danger of failing to advance past the group stage. Neymar was out injured after spinal injury in the game against Mexico and Ginter was benched.
More than just winning gold, Micale restored what he described as Brazil’s “joga bonito” (beautiful football) essence.
Advertisement
“We knew we had to give a response to the Brazilian people and we did that”.
