“Yesterday we were criticized”, the 24-year-old Barcelona forward said in reference to Brazil’s poor start to the Olympic tournament in which the home side drew 0-0 with South Africa and Iraq.
Advertisement
“That’s it”, Neymar said.
The home of “Jogo Bonito” is considered by many to be the most powerful soccer nation in the world.
Olympic football may be a sideshow for most but it has been the main event for the millions of Brazilians that, throughout the competition, have crammed around TVs and filled stadiums at an Olympics when tickets have proved hard to shift.
“This is one of the best things that has happened in my life”, he said.
TRIATHLON WINNER: Coming into the Rio Games, the US had never won an Olympic triathlon gold medal. Fireworks burst over the stadium, auto horns blared and fans sang and tossed beer into the air.
The future starts on Monday, when senior national team coach Tite, appointed in July after Dunga was sacked, names his first squad for qualifiers in Ecuador on September 1 and at home to Colombia five days later.
Neither side could find a victor in normal time as the game went into the added 30.
Neymar had scored a free kick to give Brazil the lead in the gold medal match, which ended 1-1 after extra time.
Neymar did it before an electric crowd that featured nine-time gold medalist Usain Bolt.
Neymar sunk to the field on his knees as his teammates engulfed him.
Even more emotional than the host country’s actual win was the subsequent medal ceremony, during which the entire stadium sang along to Brazil’s national anthem, while both the athletes and their fans wept some understandable tears.
The stop set the stage for Neymar, as if scripted.
Neymar (BRA) of Brazil holds his gold medal.
Goalkeeper Weverton was full of praise for Neymar, saying: “God has blessed me”. “I can’t begin to describe them (my feelings)”.
“But today, as a champion, I am giving (up) the captain’s armband”.
I don’t know Portuguese, but I do know emotion.
Neymar was made the team captain by former coach Dunga for in September 2014. He did not elaborate.
As Brazil celebrated their greatest moment of these Olympics, coming after they triumphed in the men’s football tournament, the German defender reminded the nation of their lowest ever sporting moment.
The Germany-Brazil soccer featured almost entirely different rosters from the 2014 World Cup that marked a low point for Brazilian sports.
It came two years after an embarrassing 7-1 home loss to Germany’s senior team in the World Cup semifinals at home. I congratulate all the Brazilian people for the gold medal’.
“Beloved nation, the gold is ours”, Brazilian goalie Weverton said. “This ball is mine, it’s part of history”.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt, who roamed in from the right-hand side throughout the contest, was the first to send a gasp around the Maracana in the 10th minute, curing a long-range effort against the bar after good work from Arsenal midfielder Serge Gnabry down the left wing.
But when his home country failed to score a goal in shutout ties against South Africa and Iraq, he went home on August 10.
Brazil coach Rogeiro Micale summed up the mood of the people. “We see that not all was lost, our football is still alive”.
It was fitting end to the night, for it was Neymar who had lifted his country to new heights.
Advertisement
“Now the respect is back”, said fan Guilherme Junior.
