Neymar scored the winning penalty in the final of the Olympic football tournament as Brazil overcame Serge Gnabry’s Germany 5-4 in a shootout after the game ended 1-1 after extra time.
The Barcelona striker had given the hosts the lead with a free-kick in the first half before Max Meyer equalised after the break.
The 78,000 crowd at the Maracana then endured eight perfect spot-kicks, including one by Gnabry, before Nils Petersen had his penalty saved by Weverton. Neymar promptly found the back of the net to hand Brazil
Neymar promptly found the back of the net to hand Brazil their first ever Olympic men’s football title after three defeats in the finals in 1984, 1988 and 2012.
Gnabry returns to Arsenal with a silver medal and having been the joint top scorer in the competition with six goals. As a further boost to his confidence, Arsene Wenger said the player will be offered a new contract as speculation mounts he could challenge for a first team place again with Joel Campbell being allowed to leave on loan.
On a separate, but linked note, Arsenal Ladies star Josephine Henning picked up a gold medal as Germany won the Olympic women’s football. She was an unused substitute as Germany beat Sweden 2-1 in Friday night’s final in Rio.
Well…Good for Neymar
Diving twat.
Neymar is absolutely a diving twat. If you never watch barca games, but just watched the Colombia v Brazil game you will understand. The first half of that game was so disgusting in terms of Neymar’s cynicism and how he baited the officials was so disgusting I couldn’t even watch the second half
Simply a douche.
I will always revel in the joy of that magical WC semi final. There’s no amount of ‘Olympic joke’ gold medals that will ever make up for that… All Gnabry had to say while leaving the pitch last night was: “Hey Neymar, nice medal… 7-1 you twat!!!”
Nabry’s a G
Glad for the kid.
More Ozil and less Arshavin, post international.
No surprise, Brasil put all the big hitters into that team. Germany didn’t have as many. Gnabry looked class throughout and could nail down a place in our team right now. Walcott, Ox do not look so assured of that right wing spot and some top performances could definitely cement him into a first pick spot
Except Brasil didn’t put any of their “big hitters” besides Neymar. No one else in their squad would make their senior team except for Neymar.
Marquinos
Marquinos (PSG), rafinha – very promising young midfielder at Barca
Fairytale end for Brazil. There was only ever going to be one result when Germany met them on home soil in a packed Maracana.
Fingers crossed Gnabry forces his way into the first team on this form.
7-1?
The Under-23 team did what the senior team couldn’t do.
Never forget….
I am guessing Gnabry will only need a short rest. Really hoping this will be a positive story to follow this season. Trying to keep that Positive Mental Attitude.
Having played so little last season and coming back off of a successful tournament I don’t expect he’ll need more than a week or two to rest. Whether Wenger actually decides to use him or not remains to be seen though.
I hope Gnabry went up to Neymar and whispered ‘7-1……’
I think we should post Josephine’s news as a separate article. Anyone who doesn’t woman read it doesn’t have to. I know this site is pretty clean on gender issues and very good with race and homophobia. But i think we can do more. She deserves her own article. I read every day, not just a whinger!
I meant anyone who doesn’t wanna read it!
With all due respect, there’s not a lot we can say about someone who was an unused sub in a game. We cover quite a bit of the ladies team but this was very much a footnote.
Right back to work then Serge. Just make Arsenal awesome again – no pressure.
“Gnabry’s Germany”
No one gives a shit about Olympic football.
Brazil are mediocre.