Brazil regains its national pride
Neymar’s conversion in shootout provides cathartic lift to hosts
RIO DE JANEIRO — The signature moment of the Olympics didn’t happen in a pool. Or in a track stadium. Not here. Not in Brazil. It happened, of course, on a soccer field, where national pride was at stake and where a tale of revenge was told. And where a nation’s catharsis took place.
The moment took place Saturday night in Maracana Stadium, the most hallowed and sacred of sports cathedrals in this sportscrazed nation. And its hero was the man who has been appointed to be the savior of the nation’s sport, a star who has been often criticized for not carrying his land to glory.
The script was perfect. The tension divine. And, in the end, Neymar delivered his country the perfect Olympic ending.
A 5-4 shootout win over Germany in the gold-medal match. Give goalkeeper an assist
His teammate, goalkeeper Weverton — at 28, the oldest man on the field in this age-restricted tournament — saved the fifth German penalty kick, on Nils Petersen. The only save of the shootout.
And then Neymar stepped into the spotlight. Up to the ball to take the final penalty kick.
He hesitated, stutter-stepped, and sent the ball in the opposite direction of where most of the players had shot: to the right. It creased the back of the net and as his teammates dashed toward him, Neymar crumpled to the ground and began sobbing.
The pressure and pride of a country had ridden on his right foot. And the roar that went up when the ball connected with the net wasn’t just applause, it was a howl of righteousness.
“I don’t have words to say anything,” Neymar said later, sobbing. “I can’t describe my feelings right now. I just want to thank my teammates, my friends and my family, who have been by my side during the most difficult moments. It wasn’t easy. I don’t know what else to say, I’m just really happy.”
A cry of pride from a nation that has been demeaned and belittled — told it couldn’t, told it shouldn’t, told it would fail at these Olympics. It was a shout down of all the Zika fears, the mocking of its dirty waters and the condescending indignation over its crime problems from nations that haven’t solved theirs.
“This restores our self-esteem,” coach Rogerio Micale said. “We see that not all was lost, our football is still alive. There are some things that need to be fixed, but today we were able to make our people happy.” Revenge for World Cup rout
This game was also retribution against Germany, the nation that had not only beaten Brazil but humiliated the country at the 2014 World Cup. The 7-1 drubbing in a semifinal on its home soil was humiliating.
A win in an under-23 Olympic tournament can’t make up for that loss, a gold medal can’t replace a World Cup trophy, but it helps ease the pain. The decorated Brazil national program had won everything, but never a gold medal. Four years ago, Neymar and his teammates were humbled by Mexico on the Olympic stage.
That defeat and the defeat in the World Cup cast doubts on the direction of Brazilian soccer. On Neymar’s abilities, even though he had been unable to play in the World Cup semifinal due to a broken bone in his back, suffered in the previous match.
On Saturday the fans, most wearing his No. 10 jersey, at packed Maracana serenaded Neymar — “Ole, ole, ole Ney-mar, Ney-mar” — as he lined up for a free kick in the 26th minute of the game. And he responded with a beautiful arcing shot that crested over the fingertips of Germany’s goalkeeper Timo Horn.
The party was on inside the stadium, but Germany was intent on being spoilers. In the 59th minute, with a brilliant bit of passing, Germany’s Jeremy Toljan found Maximilian Meyer in front of the net. Meyer buried the ball.
Then came the long dance of doubt and tension, as regulation ended in a 1-1 deadlock, and two 15-minute periods of extra time ended likewise. The height of drama
Finally, the ultimate drama: penalty kicks. Excruciating agony, with hobbling Neymar the fifth man up. And then victory.
Neymar and his teammates took a victory lap around the stadium, hugging the ecstatic fans, waving the flag and taking selfies with their countrymen. Because this wasn’t just their team’s victory. It was a victory for all of Brazil.