As Brazil spend the next four years preparing to host the 31st Olympic games, they will surely be trying to workout a formula that will see their golden medal tally increase from the unimpressive three obtained at London 2012. The women's volleyball team lived up to their reputation, crushing USA 3-1 in the final. Their male counterparts could only manage silver, losing the final to the Russians 3-2. Judoka prodigy Sarah Menezes won the countries first gold in female Judo and the third Brazil gold came from Arthur Zanetti in the Mens Rings, the first gold in this discipline for Brazil, or indeed Latin America.
Gold Medals were expected in Beach Volleyball, Sailing and Athletics, although they all failed to deliver. Brazil's greatest chance at a gold medal, however, lay with the male football team. Brimming with young talent such as Neymar, Oscar and Pato, complete with experience in Marcelo, Thiago Silva and Hulk, the gold medal was almost a certainty. Rivals and defending champions Argentina were pipped at the qualifying stage by Uruguay, meaning the only real challenge to Brazil would come from newly crowned European champions Spain.
The tournament began well for the South Americans with a three goal lead after half an hour against Egypt. A lacklustre second half performance saw the Samba boys hold out for a 3-2 win. Their second match saw a Brazilian open the scoring. Unfortunately it was Belarus midfielder Bressan. The Brazil born midfielder, now with a Belarussian passport, opted to represent his adopted nation at international level, and looked rather embarrassed as he gave Belarus an early lead. However goals from Pato, Neymar and Oscar ensured Brazil won 3-1 and progressed to the knockout phase. After routing 3-0 against New Zealand and South Korea, with a nervy 3-2 win against Honduras in the middle, Brazil found themselves in the final.
Much to the surprise of everyone, Brazil's opponents would not be the much favoured Spain, but rather a vibrant and exciting Mexican outfit. Spain fell at the group stage after two 1-0 defeats and a 0-0 draw. Mexico, like Brazil, were undefeated on route to the final, but were not expected to stand in the way of a first Olympic title for footballs most successful nation. Or so we thought...
Mexico sprung out of the traps quicker than Usain Bolt, opening the scoring in the first minute thanks to Obie Peralta. The Brazilians looked stunned, but not defeated. They huffed and puffed, but their effort was all in vain. Santos Laguna striker Peralta doubled Mexico's lead with 15 minutes to play, all but ending the encounter. Porto striker Hulk replied for Brazil in injury time and after a Leandro Damiao sitter in the last minute, Mexico were crowned Olympic champions. Just as in 84 and 88, Brazil had to settle for a silver medal, and look on to Rio, where they will be hoping home advantage will aid their bid for a first Olympic title.
Mexico's win was a shock, their is no doubt about that. But this is not the first time there has been a surprise gold medallist at the Olympic games. In fact Mexico will be well aware of one such event. The 1996 games in USA saw Nigeria triumph against all odds.
Their first match saw them scrape a rather fortuitous 1-0 win against lowly Hungary. Goals from Babingida and Jay-Jay Okocha in the last eight minutes saw them dispose of Japan in their second game, before losing to Brazil 1-0 in the final group game. Nevertheless, they had qualified as group runners-up and faced 2012 champions Mexico in the quarter final.
Mexico, themselves, were having an unconvincing tournament and struggled against Nigeria. Goals from Okocha and once Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro saw the Africans advance to the semi final, where they would once again face Brazil. The previous day saw Argentina defeat Portugal 2-0 in the first semi final, and everyone was expecting a South American dual in the final. However, Nigeria had obviously failed to read the script.
At half time Brazil led 3-1. Nigeria were struggling and found goalscoring opportunities hard to come by. However, they were gifted an opportunity from the penalty spot. Okocha stepped up with confidence, but saw his effort saved by Dida in the Brazil goal. Many though Nigeria had blown their chance. In actual fact the penalty miss only spurred them on. With 12 minutes left they were given hope when Victor Ikpeba scored a fine goal to make it 3-2. Brazil began to look nervy, and with just minutes remaining ex-Arsenal man Kanu sent the game into extra time.
As extra time loomed, Brazil looked shell shocked. The new format of golden goal was being trialed at the games, meaning the first team to score would win. Yes, the rule was a little childish and has since been abandoned by FIFA, but try telling Nigeria that. Just four minutes in Kanu scored his second of the game sending the Africans into raptures and the Brazilians into tears. The world champions were out and Nigeria were into the final to face Argentina.
Many people admired Nigeria's achievement in reaching the final, however saw the gold medal match as a step to far. And their thoughts seemed to be justified when Claudio Lopez put Argentina in front after three minutes. However, Nigeria once again rallied and went in level at half time. The match was 2-2 heading into the final minutes and golden goal loomed again. However, Nigeria pulled off the upset when Barcelona midfielder Emmanuel Amuneke scored in injury time to give Nigeria their second gold medal of the 1996 games. It was the biggest shock in Olympic footballing history, although it was arguably eclipsed just four years later.
This time Sydney played host to the Olympic games and the world again were expecting Brazil to win the gold medal. However, they would once again be stopped in the knockout stages by another African team. And if you thought Nigeria did it the hard way...
Cameroon had a talented side, with players such as Geremi, Eto'o and M'boma. However no one expected them to win the gold medal, especially after an unconvincing group stage, which saw them scrape a win against Kuwait, draw with USA and draw with a poor Czech side. But they did enough to qualify for the quarter finals, where they would face none other than, Brazil.
The Indomitable Lions started the match well and went ahead through M'Boma. They continued to create chances, but could not find a decisive second. Much of the second half was backs against the wall for Cameroon and their resistance was made harder with the sending off of not one, but two players. They were made to rue their missed chances when Ronaldinho broke Cameroonian hearts with a 94th minute equaliser. The game went into extra time, where the golden goal format would be used once again. And once again Brazil were beaten by a golden goal. Cameroon had amazingly beaten Brazil with just nine men.
Cameroon advanced to face another South American side in the shape of Chile. Defending Olympic champions Nigeria fell to Chile 4-1 in the previous round and the South Americans were the tournaments leading scorers. However the game was a tense affair, with neither side looking like scoring. But it was Chile who made the breakthrough thanks to an own goal by Patrice Abanda. The lead would only last for six minutes, as M'Boma grabbed his second goal in two games. Yet again golden goal loomed, but in a moment of madness, Chile conceded a devastating penalty that was coolly converted by Arsenal defender Lauren. For the second Olympic games in a row an African team would compete in the final.
The 2000 final started in similar circumstances to the 1996 final, with the African underdogs conceding an early goal. Barcelona midfielder Xavi opened the scoring, with team mate Gabri doubling the lead on the stroke of half time. Cameroon looked dead and buried.
Although the luck of the Africans struck once again. Atletico Madrid defender Amaya scored an own goal to make it 2-1 and Real Madrid striker Samuel Eto'o made it 2-2 just five minutes later. Spain, just like Argentina four years prior, were stunned. Frustration began to kick in, literally, when Gabri was sent off for kicking Cameroon's Alnoudji. The African champions could not find a break through, even when Spain had a second man sent off. But Cameroon had their golden goal card to turn too. They could beat Brazil's eleven with just nine men, surely they could beat Spain's nine with eleven of their own. However, Cameroon struggled to break down a resolute Spanish defence and the game went to the lottery that is penalties.
In front of 104,000 Australian punters, Cameroon scored their first four spot kicks. Spain scored their first two, but once again it was Amaya that was the Spanish villain, missing their third spot kick. Albelda scored Spain's fourth, but it was not enough to beat Cameroon who scored all five spot kicks, ultimately winning their nations first ever Olympic gold medal. Just as the gold medal match of 2000 had started similar to that of 1996, it ended similarly, with the African underdogs jubilantly celebrating and their defeated opponents in tears. The Sydney games would become a showcase for many of Cameroons talents, none other than Samuel Eto'o.
Spain and Argentina recovered from their Olympic final defeats and have since gone on to greater things. I'm sure Brazil will do the same with their immensely talented squad peaking just in time for the World Cup they will host in two years time. Nigeria and Cameroon failed to match expectations on the international stage, but maybe Mexico will break the mold of underachieving Olympic champions.
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