Goalless, booed off twice and facing
another embarrassing tournament exit on home soil, Neymar and Brazil’s
footballers have lost their shine as Marta’s free-scoring Brazilian
women dazzle the host nation at Rio 2016.
another embarrassing tournament exit on home soil, Neymar and Brazil’s
footballers have lost their shine as Marta’s free-scoring Brazilian
women dazzle the host nation at Rio 2016.
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| Marta, Neymar |
Charged with restoring Brazilian
football’s pride two years on from a 7-1 thrashing by Germany at their
own World Cup, the Barcelona star and his proteges stooped to new lows
with their second consecutive scoreless draw against Iraq on Sunday to a
chorus of jeers in Brasilia.
football’s pride two years on from a 7-1 thrashing by Germany at their
own World Cup, the Barcelona star and his proteges stooped to new lows
with their second consecutive scoreless draw against Iraq on Sunday to a
chorus of jeers in Brasilia.
Instead Brazil’s treasured first Olympic
football gold could come thanks to their women as a nation in need of
inspiration has rallied round their sensational start.
football gold could come thanks to their women as a nation in need of
inspiration has rallied round their sensational start.
In contrast to Neymar’s ineffectual and
irritable displays, five-time World Player of the Year Marta has lived
up to her billing as the golden girl, scoring twice in a 5-1 thrashing
of Sweden on Saturday to add to an opening 3-0 win over China.
irritable displays, five-time World Player of the Year Marta has lived
up to her billing as the golden girl, scoring twice in a 5-1 thrashing
of Sweden on Saturday to add to an opening 3-0 win over China.
Marta is even becoming a stick to beat
the beleaguered men’s team with. In the closing stages of the stalemate
against Iraq, her name was chanted by the disgruntled crowd.
the beleaguered men’s team with. In the closing stages of the stalemate
against Iraq, her name was chanted by the disgruntled crowd.
“The team has lost credit with the public,” Rio newspaper O Globo surmised on Monday.
“They lost their head and balance. At 0-0 against the Iraqis, they were booed then humiliated with cries of ‘ole’ for Marta.”
Neymar’s decision to swerve the media
glare after another disappointing display even provoked fresh questions
over whether he has the discipline and leadership qualities to be
captain.
glare after another disappointing display even provoked fresh questions
over whether he has the discipline and leadership qualities to be
captain.
“When waiting for an announcement from
the captain of Brazil, Neymar, on the outcome there was no explanation,”
said ESPN Brazil.
the captain of Brazil, Neymar, on the outcome there was no explanation,”
said ESPN Brazil.
“It was enough to rekindle once again the debate on the armband.”
Neymar instead trudged out of the
Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha and onto the team bus head bowed and
headphones on to drown out critical comments.
Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha and onto the team bus head bowed and
headphones on to drown out critical comments.
The contrast to the night before
couldn’t have been starker as hundreds of young girls waited outside
Rio’s Olympic stadium until 1am screaming Marta’s name as she boarded
the Brazil women’s bus.
couldn’t have been starker as hundreds of young girls waited outside
Rio’s Olympic stadium until 1am screaming Marta’s name as she boarded
the Brazil women’s bus.
Marta’s starring role against the Swedes
also came just 24 hours after she was selected as one of eight
Brazilians carry the Olympic flag into the iconic Maracana at the
opening ceremony.
also came just 24 hours after she was selected as one of eight
Brazilians carry the Olympic flag into the iconic Maracana at the
opening ceremony.
“Marta never takes advantage of the fact she is who she is to get favours,” said Brazilian women’s coach Vadao.
“She always sees herself on the same
level as the other players and nothing more. That is what makes her so
special because she never tries to be more than the others.”
level as the other players and nothing more. That is what makes her so
special because she never tries to be more than the others.”
Brazil’s women are already assured of
their place in the quarter-finals as Marta tries to get back to the
Maracana for the gold medal match on August 19.
their place in the quarter-finals as Marta tries to get back to the
Maracana for the gold medal match on August 19.
The men meanwhile face a third catastrophic end to a tournament on home soil.
Defeat to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup
final at the Maracana scarred Brazilian football for generations until
the Germans’ rout in Belo Horizonte plunged A Selecao to new depths two
years ago.
final at the Maracana scarred Brazilian football for generations until
the Germans’ rout in Belo Horizonte plunged A Selecao to new depths two
years ago.
Failing to get out of a group containing
South Africa, Iraq and Denmark with on paper the strongest team in the
competition may even surpass those historic failures.
South Africa, Iraq and Denmark with on paper the strongest team in the
competition may even surpass those historic failures.
Victory over the Danes on Wednesday will
secure progress to the last eight, but it will take much more to win
back the hearts of Brazil’s scorned fans.
secure progress to the last eight, but it will take much more to win
back the hearts of Brazil’s scorned fans.
Source: AFP
