Brazil won the match 6-0 and qual. “7-1 was one time in a career, we will not win 7-1 against Brazil”.
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The men’s semi-final had barely kicked off when Barcelona forward Neymar intercepted the ball, charged towards the Honduran side, challenged the goalie and bundled the ball into the net, sending the Maracana stadium into a frenzy of cheers.
Two goals from Lukas Kostermann and Petersen in the ninth and 88th minute helped Germany book a final clash against Brazil on Saturday.
Brazilian fans had been hoping for a sort of rematch against Germany, which embarrassed Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals of the World Cup two years ago. That doesn’t mean that defeating the rivals in the Olympic final wouldn’t have a special sweetness. Brazil won the match 6-0.
“When he is in the team he upsets the balance in a positive way, but I think there is a whole generation of Brazilian players with talent in the team”, said Micale.
But the hosts are not getting ahead of themselves, a fact underlined by Neymar’s refusal to speak to reporters after Wednesday’s match.
Agatha and Barbara, the defending world champions, beat Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross in the semifinals on Tuesday night to reach the finals. As Brazil routed Honduras in the semifinals, the crowd at the Maracana chanted that Germany’s “turn is coming up”.
Intriguingly, both teams have a variety of players capable of scoring goals.
One more win will give them the coveted Olympic gold. It allows Germany coach Horst Hrubesch the chance to retire on a high. “It is a different time, different game, different players”.
On a broiling afternoon at the Maracaña, Brazil’s ever-mercurial footballers had a taste of how a tournament semi-final on home soil should end.
Asked how he would contain Neymar and Brazil’s attack, former forward Hrubesch said the hosts had worries of their own. “We are focused only on playing well and winning this gold medal”. They will play Serbia, who had a narrow 86-83 win over Croatia. But, also: “happy because we are the first”.
Brazil’s loss still leaves the home country with two beach volleyball medals at the games. Should Neymar and friends win this, though, all that will be forgiven.
Now they are in the final, and out of the depths of despair in Belo Horizonte two years ago comes an opportunity for Brazil to begin the long climb back up.
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Fittingly, in their best performance of the tournament, Luan converted a fine team goal for Brazil’s fifth as Gabriel Barbosa slipped in Felipe Anderson to cross low to the far post. Brazil also finished second in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1988 in Seoul, the second time with a team that included Romario and Bebeto. Perhaps there will be more pressure on the Nigerians given their more illustrious record in the tournament, having won gold in 1996 and silver in 2008.
