Brazil has claimed the gold medal its supporters most coveted, with Neymar scoring to give his team victory over Germany on penalties in the Rio 2016 football finals. Serbia snag bronze with a 70-63 win over Spain.
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Brazil had lost three Olympic finals, including four years ago in London, when it was upset by Mexico 2-1 with a team that also included Neymar and other talented players.
After Neymar’s free-kick had been cancelled out by Max Meyer, a penalty shootout was required to separate the men’s finalists.
Eight ideal spot-kicks were converted before Petersen saw his effort saved, with Neymar keeping his cool to convert the winning penalty kick.
Solo’s comments drew a rebuke from her own federation and the International Olympic Committee.
The Brazilian Olympics squad defeated Germany 5-4 on penalties to victory. The cheering could be heard down Rio’s famed Copacabana Beach, where fans yelled out “Campeoes!”
In the 77th minute, Neymar played Felipe Anderson in on goal with a through pass but the substitute was caught from behind by Germany defenders.
“It hurts a bit but we are still proud about the medal”. But now I am feeling relief, elation in this unprecedented moment in Brazilian football. Neymar then delivers the victor as the Brazilians grab the title. The 21-year-old held up seven fingers to the crowd to ensure they didn’t.
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 worldwide football. “Not only to the next match, but to the future of the national team”. “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”. The Olympic tournament was spread over numerous same cities used in the 2014 men’s World Cup.
Neymar eschewed the Copa America to focus on the Rio Games.
Still, the Olympics started disastrously for the hosts. Neymar is dedicated to the national team and he is a leader.
There were fans who crossed off Neymar’s name on their No. 10 jerseys and wrote in Marta instead.
Neymar was named Brazil captain in September of 2014 when Thiago Silva was out injured. 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 really made it known that Brazil was back with a 6-0 victory over Honduras in the semis.
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“We needed to respond to the Brazilian people. Will all due respect to everybody who has a handsome history and tried for a long time, God put this generation in this position to make history and we did”.
As for the comparison with Marta, that was unfair.
“It is a different time with different players and ages”. “It was a disaster and we want revenge”, one said. “But I’m truly happy to be a Brazilian”.
It was fitting end to the night, for it was Neymar who had lifted his country to new heights.
Neymar, the national team’s biggest star and a teammate of Lionel Messi at Barcelona, is the present, and expected leader of the team by the time the next World Cup comes around in Russian Federation in 2018.
Brazil’s five penalties were of such high quality and Germany’s goalkeeper, Horn, barely came close to saving any of them before Brazilian goalkeeper Weverton Pereira Silva saved Petersen’s kick.
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Coach Hrubesch said it was not a bitter moment.
