The Brazilian men’s team is the one with most Olympic final appearances (six), but lost in the last two Games – against the United States at Beijing 2008, and Russian Federation at London 2012.
Advertisement
Neither side were able to break the deadlock as the game went on into extra-time, with the clash proceeding to be decided via penalty shootout.
The no.2 ranked Germans scored two goals in the second half, and although the Swedes got a goal back they could not snatch an equaliser that would have taken the game into extra-time.
Yet it was Brazil who eventually prevailed, talisman Neymar converting the winning kick from 12 yards after Nils Petersen’s effort had been saved by Weverton.
“He [Neymar] is just 24, has already won silver and now a gold medal”, he added.
“If we had won the penalty shootout in the end it would all have been fine, it would have been a nice feeling, we unfortunately had to bow down to the Brazilian audience”.
But it was anything but an easy tournament for Neymar, with fans openly criticizing him and comparing him unfavorably to Brazilian women’s player Marta, who also wore the iconic No. 10 jersey for Brazil at these Olympics. This was a landmark victory over a country that had inflicted an humiliating 7-1 defeat on it two years ago, in the semifinal of its own World Cup.
Goalkeeper Weverton was full of praise for the boy turn legend saying: “God has blessed me”.
RIO DE JANEIRO Brazil are hopeful that their Olympic soccer triumph will give the faltering senior national side a boost as they head into two key World Cup qualifiers next month.
“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. At one match, fans cheered her by chanting “Better Than Neymar”. But they were no match for the Brazilian team.
Germany failed to qualify for the Olympics in 2012 but won the bronze the last three times they played, in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
It was evident from the start that Neymar knew the nation’s hopes of winning a first men’s Olympic soccer gold rested largely on his shoulders.
Unlike Neymar’s squad, the USA women’s basketball team breezed through the tournament – make that six straight tournaments.
“That was the World Cup, this is the Olympic team, ” said Micale.
Advertisement
Unlike in Europe, the Olympic medal in football is a trophy revered by South American teams in particular.
