The post-match press conference at the Maracana yesterday morning was like all the ones involving Brazil – packed to overflowing, noisy, with numerous TV cameras and crew bellowing at those blocking their view, radio commentators and a crowd of press. Brazil won the match 6-0.
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Substitute Nils Petersen then made sure of Germany’s spot in Saturday’s final when he latched onto a low cross from forward Davie Selke in the 89th minute.
He is also considering a change to his team, with an attacking Germany – who have scored 21 goals at the tournament – the final obstacle.
Neymar is the only player on either squad to have played in the 2014 World Cup and he missed the Germany game through injury.
This may be an Olympic final, but winning the gold will be of huge significance as Brazil work on a football renaissance.
The FC panel discuss Brazil’s 6-0 thrashing of Honduras in the Olympic semifinal, and if the team is favoured for the final.
“We are a team that is good going forward and we are going to play exactly the same way”. “They want us to play well and they want us to win the gold”.
“What counts is this game, the Olympic final”, he said. “It is a different team and we are here to live our dream right to the end”.
Jesus said: “We were lucky to score so quickly”.
One more win will give them the coveted Olympic gold. After conceding two to Mexico and three to South Korea in group play, they kept clean sheets seeing off Portugal and Nigeria. “For me, it’s an opportunity to turn around something the fans today talk about as the hard defeat and we’re going to reverse that result, God’s willing.” . “But nobody here played in that final. This is our generation and our chance to make a golden history for our country”.
With the men, favorites to win were Brazil facing off Colombia, in what many never would have guessed considering what took place in the 2014 World Cup. Neymar scored twice, including the fastest goal in Olympics history.
Brazil has been in the Olympic tournament 12 times but lost three finals, including at London 2012.
Brazil’s male football squad get ready for the Olympic final at the Maracana stadium.
This is the third straight Olympics in which Brazil has brought some of its best players looking for gold. The legendary Ronaldo tried in 1996 and Ronaldinho in 2008 with both having to settle for bronze.
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Brazil and Germany are playing with their U23 teams at the Olympic tournament, as per Federation Internationale de Football Association regulations, with three over-age players permitted on each team. East Germany won gold in 1976, while the old West Germany’s best effort came with bronze in 1988.
