Brazil men’s soccer team has never won Olympic gold.
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Well, here we are: the final match of the women’s soccer competition at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Germany claimed the gold medal in the women’s football tournament at the Olympics for the first time after beating Sweden 2-1 in the final at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.
Germany failed to qualify for the Olympics in 2012 but won the bronze the last three times they played, in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
The 52-year-old, who accumulated 111 caps for the national side between 1982 and 1996 and scored 48 goals, has spent 20 years behind the bench for Germany, first as an assistant, then taking over as head coach in 2005.
What a way to go out. She then assisted on the next goal that was scored by captain Christine Sinclair, which was Sinclair’s 11th Olympic goal.
“I think we really did change the game”, said Johnson, who was voted the top goaltender of the tournament.
Sweden earned the silver medal for its first Olympic medal in women’s soccer. The Swedes also defeated Brazil on penalties in the semifinals, disappointing the host nation’s fans. And the day before the gold-medal game, German coach Silvia Neid suggested Marozsan was the only potential health concern for her team.
Thrashing Honduras 6-0, Brazil got multiple players on the goal-scoring sheet.
You can also live stream Olympic matches from NBC here.
Germany goalkeeper Almuth Schult gave piggy-back rides to her fellow players in the post-game celebration. Add in Janine Beckie, who didn’t start Friday but had such a strong tournament, Rebecca Quinn, Nichelle Prince and others, and Canada can celebrate both another medal and what the future holds.
“This is definitely a new summit for German women’s football”, Neid said.
It seemed to be a half where both teams had many chances but neither could finish them.
The team has been led by Melanie Behringer, whose five goals are the most in the tournament.
Germany’s first chance came from Anja Mittag when she took a shot from outside the box but it saved by Lindahl whose saves have been crucial recently for Sweden. Lotta Schelin’s blast three minutes later sailed over the goal and the match was scoreless at the break. In the 48th minute, Dzsenifer Marozsan scored a handsome goal in the top corner of Sweden’s net.
Germany doubled its lead 14 minutes later off a Sweden own goal. While the team looked outmatched through much of the match, Sweden was able to play to a 1-1 draw with the US through 120 minutes.
Of course, this is the Olympic team so per Games rules is restricted to Under-23s with a maximum of three overage players. Neid will take on a new role as a scout. “I am just simply happy for my team”. It is easier when you make the decisions yourself.
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Yet, instead of restoring the feel-good factor, Neymar and co were booed from the field after drawing blanks in their opening two games against modest opposition in South Africa and Iraq.
