Brazil-liance! Superstar Neymar & Co seek redemption

RIO DE JANEIRO: Like the “Brazilian time” most of Rio employs when it comes to deadlines, Brazil’s success stories at the Olympics took their sweet time getting here. But when they did, they were well worth the wait.

Rafaela Silva started it a while back when she won the first home gold medal in the women’s judo. It was announced with huge “Stop Press”-style gusto in the media centre, on radio sta- tions, on television, and anywhere else they could put it.

But a week in the Olympics is a lifetime, and so Thiago Braz da Silva’s polevault victory felt like another first. The crowd booed his opposition away, and carried Silva beyond six metres, an Olympic record to go with a night to never, ever forget.

Yesterday, in the women’s 49er FX sailing pairs, Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze sparked wild celebrations on Guanabara Bay as they snuck in just ahead of the Kiwi pair jostling for gold.

Contrary to the huge levels of paranoia about the water, both duly jumped into the infamous Gaunabara Bay, soaking in another magical moment for the hosts.

It was Thursday afternoon but it may as well have been a public holiday as thousands lined the shore and shouted “Brasil, Brasil, Brasil!” in honour of the duo.

Every medal matters for the hosts because it lifts the decibel count just a little higher each time. But the medal they truly want is still to be confirmed.

Tonight at the Maracanã Stadium, Brazil’s men’s football team, the men handed the responsibility of bringing honour back to the symbol of a nation, meet Germany in the men’s final.

It’s a massive match, a huge responsibility, but also the dream that has kept the Olympic flame burning across Brazil.

The football started slowly but it has found its momentum now.

The rampant 6-0 semi-final drubbing of poor Honduras has lifted the mood around the team even more.

Fans held a vigil outside the team hotel just to catch a glimpse of Neymar jr and wish them well on their way to immortality tonight.

The one snag is that a German team with nothing to lose stand in their way and would love nothing more than to break Brazilian hearts once more.

Though it is Under-23 football, it is still Brazil against Germany and a first meeting since that wicked night at the World Cup a little more than two years ago.

On that night, the Brazilian flag was at half mast, if not completely floored from its pole. A nation wept in dismay as Germany put seven shades of shame on them, on their turf, in front of their own people.

The Olympic title is the only one missing from Brazil’s burgeoning chest of glory, which is why Neymar missed the Copa America, to ensure he was fit and firing for this mission.

Finally, they have their shot, and woe betide if they do not take it.

They will never have a better chance to do it.

And if they somehow contrive to lose, a nation may never forgive them for it.

The sheen on all the other gold medals Brazilians have won at these Olympics may lose a bit of their sparkle.

Incredibly, it really is that serious.

Brazil have the opportunity to let their people forever look back on these Olympics with a smile.

They are 90 minutes away from redemption.