Fans supported their team, and celebrated the win wildly [Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images] The 2016 Rio Olympic Soccer Finale between Brazil and Germany started with the host nation taking the lead in the 26th minute through Neymar.
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But it did feel like the wounds opened at Belo Horizonte two years ago were finally healed, when Brazil beat Germany in a penalty shootout to take the football gold medal at the 2016 Rio #Olympics Saturday night.
The fact that Germany has a near-perfect record in the dreaded shootout, according to USA Today, could have been seen as an omen that the wait for Brazil’s first soccer gold at the Olympics would not end here.
‘Brazilian football is not dead, we can achieve great things in the future’.
Brazil then dominated the opening period of the game without causing Germany goalkeeper Timo Horn too many problems, barring Neymar’s set-pieces which repeatedly posed danger – he repeatedly earned free-kicks as the Germans swarmed around the Barcelona forward from the outset.
Usain Bolt watched on from the stands as the two sides – with nine World Cup titles between them – played out a 1-1 draw after extra time in which Germany’s captain Max Meyer had brought his side level after Neymar’s opener.
And it came down to Neymar to net the winning spot kick, after Nils Petersen had his saved by Weverton.
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.
“I do not take it as a burden, it is you [the media] who put it on me”, Neymar said in an interview with SporTV after the game. Brazil, who were playing in front of 78,000 people in the famed Maracaña stadium, did well on their promise.
They all played at the Olympics and helped the team win gold, giving the host nation its biggest moment of the Rio de Janeiro Games and restoring some of its soccer pride.
If anyone was in any doubt as to how much the Olympic Games mean to Neymar, this will probably serve to convince them.
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.
However, Neymar’s role as captain was questioned after he was sent-off in just his second competitive match in the role against Colombia at last year’s Copa America.
Neymar has chose to step down as captain of the national team after leading Brazil to Olympic soccer glory.
The Germans proved to be worthy opponents when they hit the Brazilian crossbar three times in the first half.
Goalkeeper Weverton was full of praise for Neymar, saying: “God has blessed me”.
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“It wasn’t easy. I don’t know what else to say, I’m just really happy”.
