LONDON, Aug 10 (AP): Brazil hasn�t been this close to the gold medal in football since Romario was a young promising star in the late 1980s. Many great players have tried and failed after him, including the likes of Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
Now it will be up to Neymar, the future of Brazilian football, to try to end decades of frustration and give the nation its first gold, the only trophy missing in football for the five-time world champions.
Brazil is the favourite going into tomorrow�s final at Wembley Stadium against Mexico, a team which has had unusual success against its Latin American rival in recent years and will also be looking for its first Olympic gold.
Anything but the gold will be considered a failure for Brazil, which established the London Games as the team�s priority this year and brought most of its top players for the competition.
The Olympics are also an important test for the players, most of them will also likely be in the team trying to help Brazil win next year�s Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup at home.
Victory would give them an extra boost of morale and show fans the national team is on the right track.
Defeat could raise doubts and even cost the job of coach Mano Menezes as criticism will pour in from all across Brazil.
