Brazil signed up to host the Olympics for a myriad of reasons most of which are political, but in the sporting department their first priority was to win a gold medal in soccer. The Brazil Women's team lost yesterday to Sweden in penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw through 120 minutes. So that leaves just the men's team to fill the only hole in the Brazilian soccer federation's trophy case.
If more motivation was needed for the home team Joao Havelange, a massive figure in Brazilian soccer history who ruled FIFA for 24 years preceding the Sepp Blatter era, died yesterday at the age of 100.