Talk » player in the lineup, including the best in the world

SAO PAULO -- The last time Brazil played a major soccer tournament at home, Neymar was stretchered off the field and then missed an embarrassing loss against Germany in the 2014 World Cup semifinals.Two years later, the Barcelona star looks to rebound from that disappointment at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.Although the Olympic soccer tournament doesnt have the same importance of a World Cup, the Rio Games have a special meaning for the Brazilian striker. Neymar will be one of the games biggest stars and will carry the responsibility of leading the five-time world champions to their first soccer gold medal.Its a unique opportunity, he said. Not only for me, but for everyone on the team. We know how important this medal is.All eyes will be on the 24-year-old striker, who opted to play in the Olympics instead of the Copa America earlier this year. Brazil was eliminated in the group stage of that tournament, a result that prompted the firing of coach Dunga.Because its not an official FIFA tournament, teams are not required to release players for the Olympic tournament, but Neymar and the Brazilian soccer confederation negotiated with Barcelona so he could play in Rio.I know that this gold medal has eluded Brazil so far, and we will do everything to try to win it, Neymar told Brazilian television recently. Its rare that a country like Brazil, considered the land of football, still hasnt won this gold.It will be the second time Neymar will play for Brazil at the Olympics. He led the team that lost the 2012 final to Mexico in London, where the Brazilians were the heavy favorites. Brazil was runner-up twice before, in 1984 and 1988. It also won the bronze in 1996 and 2008, the last time with a squad that featured Ronaldinho and future stars like Marcelo and Thiago Silva.Neymar is special, one of the best players in the world, said Rogerio Micale, who replaced Dunga as coach of the Olympic team. Any team can benefit from a player like him. He will mean a lot to us. I think that he will be able to lead the youngsters in the squad.Neymar will be one of the three over-23 players each nation is allowed to add to its roster. The other two are 38-year-old Palmeiras goalkeeper Fernando Prass and 28-year-old Beijing Guoan midfielder Renato Augusto, who have far less international experience than Neymar.No other player will attract as much attention -- from fans, media and opposing teams -- as Neymar.Im honored to be in this team, because I know how difficult it is to win an Olympic medal in any sport, he said. With football its even more difficult because if you are not the champion, people see it differently.Neymar is facing extra pressure after Dunga was fired for the second time from the national team. Without the experienced coach by his side, Neymar will carry the fate of the team, and the striker can become a national hero if he wins the gold, or join a long list of stars -- Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, among others -- who have failed in the pursuit of the gold.I never run away from the responsibility. Im used to it, Neymar said. We have another great opportunity to win an Olympic medal, and hopefully this time it will be the gold.Neymar also had a prominent role at the World Cup in Brazil two years ago, when he played up to expectations until breaking a bone in his back in the quarterfinals against Colombia and missing the rest of the tournament. Brazil eventually was eliminated after an embarrassing 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinals.I dont compare tournaments. I just like winning every tournament that I play, Neymar said. All of them are important for me. Each has its own history, its own characteristic, but they are all important.Brazil had a favorable draw and will face South Africa, Iraq and Denmark in Group A, making its debut Aug. 4 against South Africa in Brasilia. In the quarterfinals, the hosts could face Colombia or Nigeria, two youth powerhouses.The final will be played Aug. 20 at Maracana Stadium in Rio.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoniShoes Canada Free Shipping . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Shoes Canada Sale . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. https://www.shoescanadaonline.com/ . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. Fake Shoes Canada 2020 . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. Wholesale Shoes Canada . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match.What do you need to know about last nights games? Joe McDonald gives us his take on the biggest and best performances. This is where we say, Morning, Joe.Double trouble: The Montreal Canadiens began last season 9-0-0. Defenseman P.K. Subban was on that team. After a 3-0 win Wednesday over the Vancouver Canucks, the Canadiens have begun this season 9-0-1. Subban is not on this team. He was traded during the offseason to the Nashville Predators straight up for defenseman Shea Weber. Records aside, this version of the Canadiens is much better than last seasons. Weber brings a different dynamic both on and off the ice, and the back end is more stable. Weber has four goals and six assists for 10 points in 10 games, and is a plus-14. Hes averaging more than 25 minutes per game. For the Predators, Subban has two goals and three assists for five points in nine games. Hes a minus-6 and is averaging 24 minutes per game. With a healthy Carey Price, who made 42 saves in the shutout against the Canucks, along with Webers play and leadership, the Canadiens will be atop the Atlantic Division for the majority of this season. Weber is a major reason that this team is legit.Louis better than this: After he signed a six-year deal worth $36 million with the Canucks, veteran forward Loui Eriksson was expected to have an immediate impact while playing on the same line with Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin. The Swedish trio played together during the World Cup of Hockey and their evident chemistry was a good sign of things to come for the Canucks. It hasnt continued into the NHL season. Canucks coach Willie Desjardins haas moved Eriksson off the top line, and after a 3-0 loss Wednesday to the Canadiens, Eriksson remains without a goal and has only four assists in his first 10 games for the Canucks.ddddddddddddEriksson is not alone in his scoring drought: Vancouver has scored just 17 goals in 10 games. Eriksson is a world-class player and was one of the Boston Bruins best players. He will break out -- it wont be long before he finds his game and is reunited with the Sedins.Merry Kris-mas: After missing five games with an upper-body injury, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang?scored a goal, added an assist and was a plus-3 to help his team to a 5-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night. Hes as important to Pittsburghs success as any player in the lineup, including the best in the world, Sidney Crosby. In fact, Letang was a close second to Crosby for the Conn Smythe after the Penguins won the Stanley Cup over the San Jose Sharks in June. Letang scored an incredible goal that proved to be the winner in Pittsburghs 3-1 win in the deciding Game 6 victory. The Penguins potent offense begins with its defense, and Letang leads the way. When he has the puck, good things happen. Last season, he had a career-high 67 points, and he has not skipped a beat on his return. Oh, and by the way, Penguins Cup-winning goalie Matt Murray made his first start of the season on Wednesday after breaking his thumb during the World Cup of Hockey for Team North America. He finished with 32 saves. ' ' '