Athletico coach Odair Hellmann has spoken about the 2016 Olympic gold medal, which Brazil won under the guidance of coach Rogério Micale. The news comes from Globo Esporte Futebol.
Odair Hellmann, who was an assistant coach to Micale at the time, has revealed some previously unknown stories about the team's journey to the gold medal. One of these stories involves a debt that Hellmann had taken out, which he said he would pay off if the team won the gold medal. The debt was for R$ 300,000. Hellmann made this comment in a lighthearted moment, and the team's players were amused by it.
When the team won the gold medal, Hellmann was able to pay off the debt. The team's preparation for the final against Germany was intense, including their analysis of the German team's penalty takers. Neymar, a key player, was stuck in an elevator for two hours on the day of the final.
The team's journey to the gold medal was not straightforward. They began poorly, drawing 0-0 with South Africa and Iraq. However, they went on to win 4-0 against Denmark, and then defeated Colombia and Honduras to reach the final against Germany. The title was decided by penalties, and Brazil emerged victorious. Hellmann's comments provide a unique insight into the team's journey to victory.