Brazil, the nation with an awesome reputation in world soccer, may have won the bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics, but their team has angered its legion of supporters, including the legendary Pele.
While losing 0-3 to Argentina in the semi-final, the Brazilians, in the words of supporters, 'disgraced' themselves not only by losing 0-3 to arch rivals Argentina but having two players sent off.
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| AT LEAST, A MEDAL: Brazil's Ronaldinho and Jo during the medal ceremony on Saturday. pic/Getty Images |
Brave front
Beleaguered coach Dunga tried to put up a brave front: "We got a medal for Brazil in the Olympics, and we are very happy about it," he said.
But most Brazilians were far from happy because they were expecting a medal of a different colour. Losing to Argentina at football is considered a calamity in Brazil.
Although Belgium, looking to win their first football medal since winning the gold at Antwerp in 1920, were outplayed, their coach Jean Francois De Sart was happy with his team's performance.
"Today we played a good match," he said. "We had a lot of chances against Brazil.
"If you were to compare the value of the players of Brazil and Belgium, you have a big difference, but today on the field you didn't see the big difference."
Which is all the more reason for soccer-crazy Brazilian fans to be incensed.
In the final yesterday, Argentina defeated Nigeria by a solitary goal, eight minutes into the second half, by Angel Di Maria to add to the Brazilians' woes.
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To 23-year old Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia has gone the distinction of winning an unprecedented women's Olympic distance double.
The world record holder in the event won the 5,000m race in 15m 41.40 on Friday to complement the 10,000m gold medal she had won a week earlier.
She had said on arrival in Beijing that she would decide about participating in the shorter event in Beijing's heat depending upon how she felt after the 10,000m race.
"I am very happy," Dibaba, the younger sister of Ejegayehu, whom she had beaten to 14th place in the 5,000m, said.
"I like Beijing very much. I will remember the Games forever because I won two gold medals here."
Turkey's Ethiopian-born Elvan Abeylegesse claimed the silver in 15:42.74, with defending champion and current world champion Meseret Defar bagging the bronze in 15:44.12.
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Australian swimming icon Ian Thorpe, who was considered a serious threat to Michael Phelps' domination in the pool until his surprise retirement in November '06, has clarified that his comments about the American phenomenon were misreported in the media.
It is generally believed that Thorpe's widely-publicised remarks helped spur Phelps to a record eight gold medals at Beijing.
Thorpe defeated Phelps in the 200m free style and was repeatedly quoted as saying he doubted that Phelps could equal or break Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals set in Munich '72.
Legends meet
Phelps reportedly kept a copy of Thorpe's quote, which helped motivate him, in his locker.
The two legends met at a promotional event on Wednesday and Thorpe, patently embarrassed, put the blame on the media.
"I never said I didn't think he could. I said I didn't think he would," Thorpe explained.
The Australian said he had no doubt about Phelps' ability, but expected that Olympic competition would produce an upset.
He cited Phelps' fingertip victory in the men's 100m butterfly and the US team's last-gasp win in the 4 x100 relay as proof.
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She may be a princess but her South Korean opponent, a two-time world taekwondo champion, showed no deference to royalty when kicking her in the head on her way to a 5-1 win.
Unfazed, 28-year old Sheikha Maitha bin Mohammad bin Rasid al-Maktoum, a member of Dubai's royal family, took the impertinence from her rival from the home of martial art, in her stride.
As solicitous media persons, including many from her sheikhdom, swarmed around her after the bout, Sheikha (meaning princess) said: "I'm pretty hard-headed, it doesn't bother me at all. I'm pretty used to it. I'm a tough girl. Don't worry.
"It's a dream and a nightmare at the same time. I couldn't wait until it was going to happen," the pony-tailed brunette said, grinning broadly. "And now I can't believe it's over."
POSTSCRIPT:
A sign in a supermarket in Beijing's popular Silk Market, where former US president George Bush and other foreign dignitaries have shopped during the Games, reads: "DO NOT EAT BEFORE PAYING".
(With inputs from agency reports)
