Brazil’s fans jeered their own team and saved their applause for Iraq after the two sides drew 0-0 in their Olympic clash in Brasilia.
The host nation, who have never won Olympic gold, failed to secure three points in Group A for the second consecutive game after an opening-day draw with South Africa.
The result leaves Brazil tied for second place and they require a victory over Denmark on Wednesday in Salvador to advance and avoid another huge embarrassment at home, two years after the 7-1 loss to Germany in the World Cup semi-finals.
‘We need to apologise to the fans, to the people of Brasilia,’ Brazil coach Rogerio Micale said. ‘We didn’t play our best football. We feel like we left our fans frustrated.’
Neymar, the tournament’s biggest star, played below expectations for the second straight game, and promising young strikers Gabigol and Gabriel Jesus also struggled.
Voicing their frustrations, the fans chanted ‘Marta, Marta’ in reference to the five-time world player of the year who has been thriving with the women’s national team.
And as the Iraqis rejoiced on the field after the draw, the fans applauded the team and broke out into chants of ‘Iraq, Iraq.’
‘It’s a historic day for Iraq to be able to draw against Brazil at its home,’ Iraq coach Abdulghani Alghazali said. ‘It’s a great achievement for Iraqi football.’
One of Brazil’s best chances of the match fell to midfielder Renato Augusto in second-half injury time, but his volley from close range sailed over the crossbar with the goalkeeper already beaten.
‘As the time passes and we can’t score, the anxiety increases, and in this situation it’s easier to make mistakes,’ Micale said. ‘It’s natural.’
Augusto hit the crossbar just before half-time for the hosts, while Gabigol saw his strike ruled out for offside in the 28th minute.
Elsewhere, Nigeria became the first team to advance to the quarter-finals by beating Sweden 1-0 in Manaus.
Portugal closed in on the last eight by beating Honduras 2-1 in Rio, while defending champions Mexico beat Fiji 5-1 in Salvador with four goals from midfielder Erick Gutierrez. Argentina topped Algeria 2-1 and Germany scored late in a 3-3 draw against South Korea in Salvador.
Denmark, Brazil’s next opponent, defeated South Africa 1-0 in Brasilia.
www.dailymail.co.uk
