MAIN MENUNeymar wins football gold for Brazil
Brazil superstar Neymar struck the winning penalty as
the hosts claimed a first ever Olympic football gold
medal on Saturday before announcing his intention to
step down as captain of the national team.
The Barcelona forward slotted home to jubilant scenes
at a packed Maracana as a 5-4 shoot-out win over
Germany, after a 1-1 draw, exacted revenge for a
humiliating 7-1 World Cup semifinal defeat to the world
champions two years ago.
"This is one of the best things that has happened in my
life," said Neymar, who sank to his knees in tears after
scoring from the spot.
However, he also suddenly stepped down as captain
after taking on the role in 2014 following Brazil's
disastrous World Cup exit.
"It was an honour to be captain, but from today I am
no longer captain," he told SporTV.
Olympic gold was the only major title to have escaped
five-time world champions Brazil in their history.
In front of the biggest crowd of Rio's Games, including
nine-time Jamaican gold medallist Usain Bolt, Neymar's
brilliant free-kick handed Brazil a first-half lead.
In honour of the retiring sprinting great, Neymar even
adopted the "lightning bolt" celebration, while chants
of "ole, ole, ole, Neymar" rang around Rio's most iconic
arena.
However, Germany captain Max Meyer enjoyed a
special celebration of his own as he taunted the
raucous 78 000 crowd at the Maracana by kissing the
No 7 on his shirt when he swept home Jeremy Toljan's
cross just before the hour mark.
The first eight penalties in the shootout were all
successful before Brazil goalkeeper Weverton stopped
Nils Petersen's effort to set the stage for Neymar.
And he didn't disappoint as, with the weight of a nation
on his shoulders, he rifled the ball into the top corner.
"Now they'll (the critics) have to swallow what they
said," added Neymar after being fiercely criticised for
his underwhelming early displays in the tournament.
Brazil Olympic coach Rogerio Micale said Neymar's
decision to leave the captaincy in the hands of new
senior coach Tite demonstrated his newfound
"maturity."
"It demonstrates maturity on Neymar's part. He is a
leader in the national team, he is dedicated," said
Micale.
"I finish this tournament with the best possible
impressions of Neymar as do the team."
And departing German coach Horst Hrubesch refused
to be downhearted with silver on Germany's first
appearance at the Games for 28 years.
"I am smiling all the time because I am proud of what
we achieved."
In stark contrast to the empty seats on show across
the Games, even for some of Bolt's marquee races,
there wasn't a seat to be had at the Maracana –
where Germany won the World Cup against Lionel
Messi's Argentina two years ago.
However, it was for the 7-1 mauling in Belo Horizonte
five days previously that Brazil were seeking revenge.
None of the players that took to the field that day
started on Saturday.
Neymar missed the darkest day in Brazil's football
history due to two broken bones in his back suffered
during a bruising quarterfinal win over Colombia.
Yet, the good fortune that escaped Brazil on home soil
two years ago was certainly with them in the first-half
as Germany were desperately unlucky to go in behind
at the break.
Julian Brandt's fine curling effort came back off the
bar, while Sven Bender also hit the woodwork from
close range.
In between times, Neymar had opened the scoring via
the bar with a sumptuous dipping effort from 25 yards
for his third goal of the tournament.
However, Weverton was beaten for the first time in the
competition just before the hour mark when Meyer
swept home Toljan's low cross.
Brazil piled on the pressure in the final half hour of
normal time as Gabriel Jesus turned Renato Augusto's
dangerous cross just wide, substitute Felipe Anderson
fluffed his lines and Neymar's effort from distance flew
just off target.
Thankfully for Micale's men they were far more clinical
from the spot as Augusto, Marquinhos, Rafinha and
Luan all netted to hand Neymar the chance to live up
to his billing as the host's poster boy for the Games.
the hosts claimed a first ever Olympic football gold
medal on Saturday before announcing his intention to
step down as captain of the national team.
The Barcelona forward slotted home to jubilant scenes
at a packed Maracana as a 5-4 shoot-out win over
Germany, after a 1-1 draw, exacted revenge for a
humiliating 7-1 World Cup semifinal defeat to the world
champions two years ago.
"This is one of the best things that has happened in my
life," said Neymar, who sank to his knees in tears after
scoring from the spot.
However, he also suddenly stepped down as captain
after taking on the role in 2014 following Brazil's
disastrous World Cup exit.
"It was an honour to be captain, but from today I am
no longer captain," he told SporTV.
Olympic gold was the only major title to have escaped
five-time world champions Brazil in their history.
In front of the biggest crowd of Rio's Games, including
nine-time Jamaican gold medallist Usain Bolt, Neymar's
brilliant free-kick handed Brazil a first-half lead.
In honour of the retiring sprinting great, Neymar even
adopted the "lightning bolt" celebration, while chants
of "ole, ole, ole, Neymar" rang around Rio's most iconic
arena.
However, Germany captain Max Meyer enjoyed a
special celebration of his own as he taunted the
raucous 78 000 crowd at the Maracana by kissing the
No 7 on his shirt when he swept home Jeremy Toljan's
cross just before the hour mark.
The first eight penalties in the shootout were all
successful before Brazil goalkeeper Weverton stopped
Nils Petersen's effort to set the stage for Neymar.
And he didn't disappoint as, with the weight of a nation
on his shoulders, he rifled the ball into the top corner.
"Now they'll (the critics) have to swallow what they
said," added Neymar after being fiercely criticised for
his underwhelming early displays in the tournament.
Brazil Olympic coach Rogerio Micale said Neymar's
decision to leave the captaincy in the hands of new
senior coach Tite demonstrated his newfound
"maturity."
"It demonstrates maturity on Neymar's part. He is a
leader in the national team, he is dedicated," said
Micale.
"I finish this tournament with the best possible
impressions of Neymar as do the team."
And departing German coach Horst Hrubesch refused
to be downhearted with silver on Germany's first
appearance at the Games for 28 years.
"I am smiling all the time because I am proud of what
we achieved."
In stark contrast to the empty seats on show across
the Games, even for some of Bolt's marquee races,
there wasn't a seat to be had at the Maracana –
where Germany won the World Cup against Lionel
Messi's Argentina two years ago.
However, it was for the 7-1 mauling in Belo Horizonte
five days previously that Brazil were seeking revenge.
None of the players that took to the field that day
started on Saturday.
Neymar missed the darkest day in Brazil's football
history due to two broken bones in his back suffered
during a bruising quarterfinal win over Colombia.
Yet, the good fortune that escaped Brazil on home soil
two years ago was certainly with them in the first-half
as Germany were desperately unlucky to go in behind
at the break.
Julian Brandt's fine curling effort came back off the
bar, while Sven Bender also hit the woodwork from
close range.
In between times, Neymar had opened the scoring via
the bar with a sumptuous dipping effort from 25 yards
for his third goal of the tournament.
However, Weverton was beaten for the first time in the
competition just before the hour mark when Meyer
swept home Toljan's low cross.
Brazil piled on the pressure in the final half hour of
normal time as Gabriel Jesus turned Renato Augusto's
dangerous cross just wide, substitute Felipe Anderson
fluffed his lines and Neymar's effort from distance flew
just off target.
Thankfully for Micale's men they were far more clinical
from the spot as Augusto, Marquinhos, Rafinha and
Luan all netted to hand Neymar the chance to live up
to his billing as the host's poster boy for the Games.
Thanks For You Reading The Post
We are very happy for you to come to our site. Our Website Domain name
https://nairabreed.blogspot.com/.
Newer Posts
Newer Posts
Older Posts
Older Posts
Comments