adminRIO DE JANEIRO. — Brazil’s “dream” of a first football Olympic gold medal will not be blown off course by a row over bonus payments, insists defender Marquinhos with the hosts heavy favourites to see off Honduras in today’s semi-finals.
After touring round the country in Brasilia, Salvador and Sao Paulo, Brazil finally roll into Rio for their third consecutive Olympic semi-final expected to sweep aside the Central American outsiders in front of a full house at the iconic Maracana.
And Marquinhos stressed that national pride will overrule the Brazil players’ pay packets for a squad that includes multi-millionaires like Barcelona’s Neymar and Rafinha.
“We do not talk about bonuses, we have not reached a definite value (with the Brazilian federation),” Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos said on Monday when pressed over how much each player would earn for landing gold.
“The dream for me, the team and the fans, is to be champions.”
Honduras have already seen off one South American heavyweight in Argentina to reach the last four and are just one win away from making history by securing the nation’s first ever Olympic medal.
And coach Jose Luis Pinto, who led Costa Rica to a shock run to the World Cup quarter-finals in Brazil two years ago, warned Brazil they won’t just turn up and win thanks to “the colour of their shirt.”
“We know that the Brazilian fans will support their team for 90 minutes, but we will have the mental and emotional control of it,” said Pinto.
“I am very respectful of Brazilian football but today you can’t win due to the supporters or the colour of your shirt.”
Neymar will once again be burdened with the hopes of a home nation in need of some success after striking just one goal in four games so far.
The 24-year-old’s Olympics finally came to life with his first goal of the tournament in a 2-0 quarter-final win over Colombia.
However, Pinto insists he has a plan to thwart Brazil’s golden boy. — AFP.
Online Reporter