“The first two games we didn’t play badly, but the goals didn’t come and sometimes the fans focus exclusively on the result”.
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“We showed a lot of patience, that was important and the fantasy arrived”, said Barbosa, a top target for a host of European clubs including Premier League champions Leicester City.
Brazil will take on Colombia in the quarterfinals, while Denmark also advanced – after South Africa and Iraq drew 1-1 – and will play Nigeria.
“The team played a great match”, Brazil coach Rogerio Micale said.
Brazil was desperate for a victory to stay in the competition as it had been scoreless in its first two group games.
Iraq and South Africa were both eliminated following a 1-1 draw at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo.
Following the completion of the final group matches at the Olympic Games, Nigeria avoided facing a Brazil side featuring Barcelona’s Neymar.
Luan then finished off a fine team move before Barbosa’s deflected strike ensured Brazil went through as Group A winners.
The attacking trio of Gabriel Barbosa, Gabriel Jesus and Neymar caused problems for the Danish defence from the start, but it was Barbosa who broke the deadlock after 26 minutes.
Gabriel added a second goal in the 80th minute, taking matters into his own hands with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom-right corner.
Neymar, who had been heckled by some fans after struggling in the first two games, played better and was much more involved in the game.
The opening goal may have been just what Brazil needed to open the floodgates.
Earlier on Wednesday, two-time Olympic champions Argentina and defending champions Mexico were eliminated from medal contention after failing to advance from the group stage.
Portugal secured top spot in Group D with a 1-1 draw against Algeria in Belo Horizonte to set up a last eight meeting with Germany on Saturday. It was another blow to Argentine soccer following the senior team’s loss in the Copa America final in June and the ongoing crisis enveloping the sport at home.
Mexico, which upset Brazil in the final of the 2012 London Games, failed to advance after a 1-0 loss to South Korea in Brasilia.
In Group C, Germany smashed Fiji 10-0 to reach the quarterfinals while South Korea edged past defending champions Mexico 1-0 to qualify as the group victor.
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Argentina’s conquerors in the 2014 World Cup final, Germany, remain on course for another Brazilian party at the Maracana on August 20 as they brushed aside the hapless Fijians in Belo Horizonte. Fiji had already lost 5-1 to Mexico and 8-0 to South Korea.
