Rio Olympics 2016: Neymar leads Brazil to Germany rematch
By Agencies
Published: Thu 18 Aug 2016, 1:34 PM
Last updated: Thu 18 Aug 2016, 3:45 PM
Neymar scored twice, including the fastest goal in Olympic history, as Brazil set up a blockbuster revenge showdown with Germany for Olympic gold by thrashing Honduras 6-0 on Wednesday.
The sides will meet on Saturday at the Maracana just two years after Germany inflicted Brazil's heaviest defeat of all time in a 7-1 thrashing in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals at the same stadium.
World champions Germany reached their first Olympic final as a unified nation as Lukas Klostermann and Nils Petersen netted in a 2-0 win over Nigeria in Sao Paulo.
Neymar had been much criticised for lacklustre displays in two 0-0 draws to start the tournament. But his transformation from the nation's whipping boy back to golden boy was capped by his determination to open the scoring after just 15 seconds.
"Neymar is a monster. He has the gift of playing football, he delights everyone with his talent," said Brazil coach Rogerio Micale.
"Neymar deserves our gratitude because he pushes Brazil to a higher level."
The Barcelona star hounded defender Johnny Palacios to rob possession on the edge of the Honduras box and goalkeeper Luis Lopez's attempt to atone for his teammate's error only ricocheted the ball off Neymar's midriff and into an empty goal.
For a moment, Neymar's bravery looked like it may have come at a cost. He was stretchered off after being winded in the challenge.
Neymar missed the 7-1 humiliation as he suffered two broken vertebrae in his back at the end of a brutal World Cup quarter-final win against Colombia.
However, there was no repeat as the 24-year-old was soon back terrorising the Honduras defence. Bryan Acosta and Allans Vargas were booked for uncompromising attempts to stop Neymar.
Image: Rio 2016/Twitter Honduras coach Jorge Luis Pinto believes Neymar's star billing offered him too much protection.
"Neymar is the best or second best payer in world football, so controlling him is not easy," said Pinto, whose side still have the chance to land Honduras' first ever medal in Friday's bronze medal match.
"But the referees are falling into his trap."
Manchester City's new £27 million ($36 million, 31 million euros) wonder kid Gabriel Jesus piled on the pain for Honduras with two more goals before the break.
Luan's lovely through ball was prodded past the helpless Lopez by Jesus for his second goal of the tournament on 26 minutes.
Nine minutes later, Neymar turned provider with a precise pass down the left that Jesus burst onto before crashing the ball into the roof of the net.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos took advantage of some awful Honduras marking to make it 4-0 six minutes into the second-half.
Fittingly, in their best performance of the tournament, Luan converted a fine team goal for Brazil's fifth as Gabriel Barbosa slipped in Felipe Anderson to cross low to the far post.
Neymar capped a fine display with his second of the afternoon from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
Germany will be hoping to recreate happy memories of Rio as they followed up beating Brazil to lift the World Cup at the Maracana with a 1-0 win over Lionel Messi's Argentina two years ago.
Defender Matthias Ginter is the only World Cup winner in the German Olympic squad. Whilst seeing similiarities between the teams, he insists the 7-1 was a "once in a lifetime" experience.
"We have the same team spirit, we fight for each other," Ginter told SporTV.
"We are very happy to be in the final and to have a medal.
"It was once in a lifetime. 7-1 was one time in a career, we will not win 7-1 against Brazil."
Nigeria had overcome a chaotic build-up to the tournament and rows over player's allowances to reach the last four.
However, coach Samson Siasia, who had threatened to quit during the competition due to unpaid wages, said his side could have no complaints.
"It is a shame, but we don't deserve to be in the final playing like that," he said
Five things on Brazil v Germany football final Five things to watch out for in the men's football gold medal match between Brazil and Germany on Saturday:Revenge and redemptionJust two years after the heaviest and most humiliating defeat in Brazil's history when Germany won their World Cup semi-final 7-1 in Belo Horizonte, the sides meet again on Brazilian soil.
Brazil's most painful loss until 2014 had been a 2-1 defeat to Uruguay at Rio's Maracana - where the final will be held - in front of a world record 173,850 attendance at the 1950 World Cup final.
Germany have happier memories of the Maracana as they followed up their semi-final win by beating Lionel Messi's Argentina to win the World Cup there two years ago.
First goldDespite winning a record five World Cups Brazil have never won Olympic gold.
They fell just short in London four years ago, losing 2-1 to Mexico in the final to add to two other silver and two more bronze medals.
Four-time world champions Germany have also never struck gold as a united nation. East Germany won gold in 1976, while the old West Germany's best effort came with bronze in 1988.
Old rivals, new facesWhilst the spectre of Germany's 7-1 win two years ago will hang over the final, not one player who took to the field in Belo Horizonte will take part in Saturday's showpiece.
Brazil's star forward Neymar and Borussia Dortmund's Matthias Ginter are the only two players who were in their respective nations' World Cup 2014 squads.
Neymar missed out on the semi-final after suffering two broken bones in his back during a brutal quarter-final clash with Colombia, whilst Ginter was an unused substitute.
Best defence vs best attackA 2-0 semi-final win over Nigeria took free-scoring Germany's impressive tally for the tournament to 22 goals in just five matches. They also boast the two top scorers in the competition with Serge Gnabry and Nils Petersen both on six.
Brazil have struck 12 times in their last three games having been held scoreless in their opening two matches. However, the hosts have yet to concede a goal at Rio 2016.
Brazil enjoy head-to-head leadDespite the 2014 semi-final, Brazil still enjoy a favourable head-to-head record with Germany, winning 12 and losing just five of their 22 meetings. The most famous Brazil win coming in the 2002 World Cup final.