Brazil want to erase unhappy memories
BEIJING (Reuters) - Ronaldinho and Brazil are determined to avoid history repeating itself in their Olympic quarter-final against Cameroon on Saturday, having lost to the same opponents at the same stage in Sydney eight years ago.
The golden goal defeat against a team who finished with nine men cost coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo his job, something which present incumbent Dunga will be only too aware of.
Like Luxemburgo before him, Dunga agreed to take charge of the Olympic under-23 team in addition to the senior side and arrived at the Games under intense pressure after a run of poor results.
Dunga's chances of keeping his job until 2010 will be greatly reduced if Brazil fail to win Olympic gold for the first time.
Ronaldinho, included by Brazil as one of their three permitted over-age players in the under-23 competition, was in the Brazilian team in Sydney where he scored their sole goal in the 2-1 defeat by Cameroon.
"There's no feeling of revenge. But it's a big coincidence that we're playing the same team and, of course, there's special motivation in this game," said Ronaldinho.
Brazil completed their first round group with a 100 percent record from three games, with nine goals scored and none conceded, with opponents including struggling hosts China and semi-professionals New Zealand.
Two draws and a 1-0 win over Honduras were enough for Cameroon to go through.
All three African sides in the competition reached the quarter-finals and the other two, Ivory Coast and Nigeria, will face each other.
"It will be a match between two African teams who are very familiar with each other," said Ivory Coast's coach Gerard Gili.
Defending champions and favorites Argentina admit they need to sharpen their finishing when they face European under-21 champions the Netherlands.
"It bothers and annoys me to have so many chances and not be able to convert them," said striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, who has still managed to score in their last two games.
Italy, who have scored six goals and conceded none, face Belgium in the other tie.
(Editing by Ralph Gowling)
