When it comes to attacking talent, the home nation definitely holds the edge. They have in their ranks one of the best soccer players in the world today in Neymar. The pressure definitely is on Neymar to give Brazil its first ever Olympic gold in the Men’s Soccer event. The Barcelona forward has scored 46 goals in 70 international appearances for Brazil. Neymar, who is the fifth-highest goalscorer in Brazil’s history, opted to skip the Copa America Centenario to focus on this year’s Rio Games.
Also expected to contribute for Brazil in this Olympic Games is Gabriel Jesus. He is the Brazilian first division’s current top scorer with 10 goals in just 14 matches. The teenage star has flourished this season operating from a central role for Palmeiras. Gabigol is another player who’s bound to impress in this tournament. With his goal against Japan on Saturday, Gabigol has now scored seven goals in six outings for the Olympic team. The two Gabriels’ partnership with Neymar is definitely the one to watch in the upcoming Summer Olympics.
South Africa, on the other hand, will rely on the brilliance of captain Keagan Dolly to get them through in this tournament. The midfielder has just helped current premier league champions Mamelodi Sundowns to a semi-final berth in the CAF Champions League. He gave the South Africans a much-needed confidence booster ahead of their opening match against Brazil, scoring in the Amaglug-glug’s 4-0 victory over the Brasilia Police Department.
There’s still plenty of uncertainty surrounding Brazil’s defense heading into the Olympics in a couple of days’ time. Starting goalkeeper Fernando Prass has been ruled out of the Rio Games after fracturing his elbow in practice last Sunday. That’s a huge blow for head coach Rogelio Micale who expected the 38-year-old Palmeiras shot-stopper to help Neymar and midfielder Renato Augusto in providing stability and experience to Brazil’s under-23 team.
With Prass now gone, the onus is on Weverton Pereira Silva to step up his play for the Selecao. The Atletico Paranaense goalkeeper was selected by Micale to replace the injured Prass. Weverton will be aided in defense by Brazil’s rock-solid backline. Micale has settled on Zeca, Marquinhos, Rodrigo Caio and Douglas Santos to be his back-four here in Rio. They played an integral role in Brazil’s recent clean sheet against Japan.
Just like the five-time world champions, South Africa has opted as well for experience in their goalkeeping ranks. They have tapped Bafana Bafana captain Itumeleng Khune as one of their two over-age players in the upcoming Olympics. The Kaizer Chiefs keeper brings stability at the back and he’s someone who can command the box with ease. South Africa’s back four may be talented but they still need Thune’s leadership especially in a big tournament like the Olympics.
Writer’s Prediction: Brazil (-935) eases past South Africa, 3-0.
