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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Just two weeks ago Neymars commitment to the Olympic team was questioned by Brazils fans.Now hes a national hero -- and an Olympic champion.Neymar buried the winning kick of a penalty shootout against Germany on Saturday night at Maracana Stadium, sending all of Brazil into a boisterous celebration. The cheering could be heard down Rios famed Copacabana Beach, where fans yelled out Campeoes! Champions!Neymar sunk to the field on his knees as his teammates engulfed him. He lay on the ground for several long moments while they celebrated, sobbing.This is one of the happiest things that have happened to me, he said moments later.It was Brazils first gold medal and it came on home soil. For Neymar, it was a seminal moment.Some were already asking whether Neymars name should be added to the list of Brazils greats, joining the Pele, Zico and the phenomenon Ronaldo.Brazil coach Rogerio Micale essentially said it was too soon to put Neymar in that realm, suggesting his next step is a World Cup title.But he nonetheless had great praise for the charismatic 24-year-old striker who plays for Barcelona and is considered among the best current players in the world. Neymar has been an integral part in Barcelonas recent success, along with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.Hes a leader on the national team. Dedicated, Micale said through a translator. Now that weve finished this tournament, I have the best possible impression of Neymar. The whole team does.The mens soccer tournament attracted most of the attention of Brazilian fans at the Olympics. The countrys football federation took the Olympic tournament very seriously, bringing Neymar and many talented youngsters who are expected to be in the main squad in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.Neymar eschewed the Copa America to focus on the Rio Games. The mens Olympic tournament is contested among under-23 teams, but they can each bring three players from the senior national team.Still, the Olympics started disastrously for the hosts. Brazil struggled with scoreless draws against South Africa and Iraq was even in danger of missing out on the knockout round.Neymar was heavily criticized by soccer-crazy Brazilians who saw the womens national team, and particularly star Marta, off to a fast start in contrast.There were fans who crossed off Neymars name on their No. 10 jerseys and wrote in Marta instead. Neymar was taunted with fans shouting Martas name at his matches, while Marta was honored with fans chanting Better Than Neymar! at hers.With Neymar at captain, Brazil turned its tournament around. First came a decisive 4-0 victory over Denmark to close out the group, followed by a 2-0 victory over Colombia in the quarterfinals.Neymar really made it known that Brazil was back with a 6-0 victory over Honduras in the semis. He had two goals -- including one only 15 seconds into the match for the fastest goal in Olympic history.We needed to respond to the Brazilian people. Say something to the people and to the football community, by doing something different, Micale said. We did that. We won. Were skilled and competent. We responded as necessary and we did this in the short time that was available to us.As for the comparison with Marta, that was unfair. Marta is considered one of her sports greatest players ever: She is a five-time FIFA World Player of the Year.Thats just a part of the Brazilian culture, Micale said. Thats the way we are. We love and hate from one day to the next. We go to extremes. People go back and forth. But Im truly happy to be a Brazilian.Saturday nights victory was not only Neymars redemption, it was a nations.It came two years after an embarrassing 7-1 home loss to Germanys senior team in the World Cup semifinals at home. Brazil was also coming off a demoralizing elimination in the group stage of this years Copa America.Neymar was on the World Cup team but didnt play against Germany because of a back injury sustained in the quarterfinals against Colombia.With his penalty kick in the Olympic final, Neymar helped ease some of that lingering bitterness. He also countered the doubters who dogged him early in the games.We went through difficult moments in the beginning of the competition, we were criticized, he said, and we answered on the field, with soccer. Bills Jerseys China .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. Cheap Bills Jerseys For Sale . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. http://www.wholesalebillsjerseys.com/?tag=youth-harrison-phillips-jersey . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. Cheap Bills Jerseys Online . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Wholesale Bills Jerseys Free Shipping .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin fought to a draw on their home ice.Canada, however, remains a bit ahead of Russia. At least for now.Ryan Getzlaf beat Sergei Bobrovsky on a breakaway at 3:29 of overtime to give Team Canada a 3-2 victory over Team Russia in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition Wednesday night.Bobrovsky made 45 stops, some of them spectacular, but couldnt wrangle the puck when Getzlaf slipped it between his pads during the 3-on-3 extra session.John Tavares and Patrice Bergeron scored for Canada. Crosby assisted on Bergerons score while playing underneath the familiar banners at Consol Energy Center. Carey Price had 24 saves for Canada, which finished 2-1 in exhibitions before the eight-team tournament begins in Toronto this weekend.I think the whole thing with a short tournament event is to keep getting better, keep improving and keep building off each game, said Crosby, who had two assists in the three exhibitions. I think were able to do that. I think theres still another level, but Im sure thats the case for a lot of teams. We need to get to that level gradually.Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist for the Russians. Alexander Ovechkin also scored. Malkin assisted on Ovechkins goal to match longtime Pittsburgh teammate Crosby.We go up against each other a lot, Malkin said. Hes tough on the boards protecting [the] puck every time. Its a hard battle against him. I like how I play, too.The Canadians open the tournament Saturday against the Czech Republic. Russia, which went 1-1-1 in three tuneups, begins on Sunday against Sweden.We didnt lose the game right away, Ovechkin said. We battled and got the lead. The boys feel much better now and for the future.Canada is a heavy favorite to continue its run atop international play, a surge that started with a triumph at the 2010 Olympics and continued two years ago in Sochi when they grabbed gold again while the host Russians missed the medal stand completely.Anything less than hearing O Canada play after the final at the end of the month would be a disapppointment, particularly at home.dddddddddddd Its a role Crosby and his countrymen thrive in, though theyve been a bit uneven during their three exhibitions, following up a 5-2 romp over the U.S. last weekend with an up-and-down performance against Russia. Canada dominated early and then spent the middle portion of the game on its heels a bit before collecting itself late.I think weve gotten more and more comfortable, Crosby said. Special teams is going to be big ... Its a process, but I thought we definitely got better with every game and generated a lot.Crosby and Malkin both joked about facing each other on the same sheet of ice theyve shared for a decade, with Crosby good-naturedly saying he may take a friendly shot at Malkin if the moment called for it. The moment ended up coming in the first period, when the two briefly met in the corner before Malkin skated away with both players unharmed.Canada controlled the first period and took the lead when Crosby fed a streaking Bergeron, who slipped it by Bobrovsky to put the Canadians in front during a 20-minute stretch in which they outshot the Russians 14-5 and tilted the ice heavily to once side.Russia slowly found its footing and finally converted when Malkin won a faceoff and dropped it to Panarin, who slipped it across the ice to Ovechkin. The Washington Capitals star drilled a one-timer from his familiar spot in the left circle to tie it 3:40 into the third. Panarin put Russia up less than four minutes later when he jumped on a rebound to give the Russians the lead.Tavares picked up his third goal in as many exhibitions by threading a wrist shot from the top of the zone by Bobrovsky at 13:58. Bobrovsky sent the game into overtime with a series of stellar stops in the final minutes of regulation, including a slick glove-hand save against Crosby from in close.I like how we play, Malkin said. Next time we play [the] semifinal or final, I hope. ' ' '