Brazilian forward Neymar (L) shoots the ball against an Iraqi defender. (Photo : Getty Images)
Surprise Group A leaders Denmark (1-0-1, 4 points) will take on host team Brazil (0-0-2, 2 points) in the final round of group stage competitions in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. The match will be held at the Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador on Wednesday, August 10.
Denmark is the only team in Group A so far that had registered a win with their 1-0 nipping of South Africa at the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha in Brasília on Sunday, as per NBC Olympics.
All the other matches in the said group have ended up in goalless draws at this point of the tournament.
Striker Robert Skov provided the winning goal for head coach Niels Frederiksen side 69th minute off an assist from 17-year-old forward Jacob Bruun-Larsen to help the Danish squad break away from their rivals with a two-point lead in the overall standings over Brazil and Iraq, who are now tied with two points each.
The Brazilians, the pre-tournament favorites to win the men's football gold medal that the team has actually never won, continued to disappoint as they were again held to a 0-0 tie in their second round match versus Iraq also at the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha last Sunday, CBS Sports reported.
The frontline trio of team captain Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Barbosa seemed to be not working for head coach Rogério Micale as they were shutout for the second consecutive game.
The attacking threesome has been successful in controlling the ball and attacking, but their shots have repeatedly clanged off the goal posts every time.
Brazil could end up missing the quarterfinals entirely if they lose this one against Denmark and Iraq wins over South Africa in the last round's other match.
Meanwhile, if both Brazil and Iraq wins their final group round games, then a tiebreaker system will be implemented on who will advance in the knockout stages.
The predicted result is a 2-0 bounce back win for Brazil.
Denmark starting lineup (4-4-1-1 formation): Hojbjerg; Desler, Gregor, Gomes, Blabjerg; Borsting, Maxso, Jonsson, Vibe; Larsen; Brock-Madsen
Brazil starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Weverton; Zeca, Marquinhos, Caio, Santos; Augusto, Maia, Anderson; Gabriel, Jesus, Neymar
