Richarlison wins gold medal glory with Brazil at the Olympics

Is there a specific reason why a couple of overage players are permitted and while I understand it not being open age how was U-24s decided on?

"In the case of men's Olympic soccer only, Fifa and the International Olympic Committee limit tournament participation to players who are 23 years of age and younger, with only three over-23 selections permitted on each roster (given the pandemic delay, that age cutoff was pushed to 24 for 2021). It's also not mandatory that club teams release male players to their national teams for the men's Olympic tournament."

More here.

My Discovery+ login seems to no longer work... anyone streaming this?

I can only find silly computer versions or a crazy "where the ball is" type of thing Michael, looks like we'll have to watch Everton!

Aye, thanks Barry. At least that one appears to be working... until the game actually starts!

Anyone else watching this? I'm only interested because of Richarlison who is equally frustrating today as he was for us last season. Stroppy, petulant, good running off the ball, aggressive to the point of stupid, nearly 100% useless when receiving the ball deep - he has failed with every single dribble and pass from deep, looks dangerous in the box and may well score but honestly I'm not sure I want him in the squad if we can get money for him. Hope he proves me wrong next season.

Copa del Rey now olympics, Ricky will ask for any time off to swerve us. His next ask will be the Blackpool lights turn on. He's taking the piss no way pep etc would allow it. Same as James on his private jet as we where getting pummelled five nil v city, Hope this manager as strong as been suggested

And he's just launched a penalty well over the bar oh dear

Brazil 1 up at H/T

Richarlison is 90% effort, 10% composure. His attitude has to be applauded but he needs to improve his on ball decisions along with the passing, shooting.

Richarlison missing a penalty and a good chance, Spain then equalised.

Richarlison owes them here.

Extra time, 1-1. Richarlison apparently missed a penalty and hit the bar. Spain also hit the bar twice in the last 10 mins of regular time. Good luck, Richie, as ET gets under way.

Malcom has just put the Brazilians ahead.

So Richarlison becomes the second Everton player to have won an Olympic Gold Medal. But the other guy does have the claim that he scored in the final.

Now get your arse back to Everton. We need you.

The job of being our penalty taker is wide open. Richarlison's audition for the job didn't go well.

This is probably the first summer in ages we haven't been linked with Malcom. Was he any good, Tony @13?

Hi Phil [14],

Richarlison is actually the fourth Everton player to win an Olympic gold medal, he follows in the footsteps of Harold Hardman 1908, Arthur Berry 1912, and Daniel Amokachi 1996.

I suppose, John, this is the first final you've not been able to attend??

I tell you what John @18

You'd have stumped just about everyone I know with that little gem

I think I'll impress everyone by pulling that one out of the bag next time I'm out.

An Everton player who knows what winning feels like. Well done young man & congratulations.

John Senior; fascinating insight. Extra Guiness for you Sir!!

Hi Dennis [19], I guess the phrase, 'If you know your history' springs to mind.

Darren [20], you do know that I expect to meet up with you at the ToffeeWeb get-together on September 18th, don't you?

Hi Danny [21], an extra bottle of Guinness sounds like an excellent idea, as long as you're paying.

Good game. Two good teams. Thought Brazil better overall.

Richarlison was lively. So was that ball he skied on the penalty kick. Yikes.

Keeper made a nice save off a Richarlison shot, deflecting the ball onto the cross-bar.

Congrats to Brazil. Hurry back, Richarlison.

I only watched the last 20 minutes, Robert, so I don't know if Malcom started the game or came on as a sub.

If I had to guess, I'd say he never started, simply because he looked faster and stronger in his running than everyone else, during the extra time period that I watched.

Cheers Tony. Nice moment for Richarlison to pick up a winners medal anyway.

Drinks are on me, John!

Tony, Robert.

Malcom came on at the start of extra time.

Pleased for Richarlison to get an Olympic Gold, a great achievement. I'll be a hundred times more pleased if he has a great season for Everton and bangs in 15+.

Well, Richarlison was heavily involved in helping Brazil to the Copa America Final, and then even more heavily involved in helping Brazil to Olympic Gold.

I think his summer has been better spent than joining up with the squad for pre-season – whether he stays or not. Well done to him.

Not arsed about Brazil and he'll be agitating for his move away now. If we can get £70M then good business as, after today's showing, we need something different.

Agree Mike, couldn't give two fucks about Brazil, just want him to do it for us.

So what? How does this help us? He'll be knackered after a full season and two tournaments the other side of the world.

He's 24 and should never have gone to the Olympics, the Copa America should have been enough.

Sell him for what we can get and buy someone who wants to put his full energy into our club.

Yeah, I suppose it could be that he'll come back knackered and looking for a move to a bigger club.

Or it could be that he'll come back inspired by his national team accomplishments and grateful for Everton allowing him the chance, eager to translate his newfound confidence into club success.

And you guys haven't the slightest idea which.

I have to think we have been royally shafted by the club. We are about to embark on more years of hurt that us fans don't deserve. Absolute shite by this club... shite!

Mike (32), Which of the two options do you think it will be?

I thought Jay Wood would have commented on this. Hope all is well with you and your family, Jay.

Mike and Dave, I predict Richarlison will return smiling, joking, no longer diving and ready to become a legend! (With us!!!)

Andy (35),

I hope you are right, I wouldn't bet on it myself. Brazil is everything to Richarlison and Everton come second best, at the most.

Loved The Observer's report this morning:

"This Olympic tournament has answered some questions about Richarlison – is he any good? (Answer: sometimes); what, exactly does he do? (Answer: stuff) – and also left them hanging."

He works his socks off, but composure in the penalty area is a big handicap for a striker who has aspirations to join a European super club.

Also in "The Observer" this morning, The Esk's very fair and honest assessment of our prospects in the coming season. He sees us finishing in mid-table and is waiting to see how Benitez performs and what the fans' reactions might be.

Who cares about winning an Olympic gold medal when you've got The Florida Cup?

Gaynes (32),

"Or it could be that he'll come back inspired by his national team accomplishments and grateful for Everton allowing him the chance, eager to translate his newfound confidence into club success."

Now, now Mike.

Rick - (37) - 3 paragraphs of Everton player/team being put down. Which part(s) did you "love"?

The bit I quoted verbatim, James.

All good in Brazil Andy, thanks.

Not one interested in transfer rumours and speculation I tend to post less on TW during summer recess. Unless commenting on actual sport (the Euros, Copa America and this, the Olympics football), or if a discussion interests me.

Too engrossed in the final yesterday to comment on here, then domestic weekend life got in the way.

Watching live cricket with Lancashire and England (NOT the 100) and the Olympics has almost been a full time (and thoroughly enjoyable) job in recent weeks also.

Scanning through this thread and the Utd-Everton match day thread there isn't a lot to engage with TBH.

On Richarlison and Brazil, as someone vehemently opposed to him playing both the Copa America AND the Olympics on the back of the last 18 months of Covid-impacted football, he and Brazil have had an excellent Olympics.

Last season was, IMO, his poorest in an Everton shirt since joining us. He had moments of brilliance, but nowhere near to the levels of consistency and excellence he has previously shown he is capable of.

How many times did we see his close control let him down and the ball bounce away from him? Hands-down running taking on a forlorn shot, rather than playing in a better-placed colleague?

Well, in those things he has been superb in Tokyo - far better than he played in the Copa America.

He got his way to compete at the Olympics. He got his way to claim the iconical #10 Brazilian shirt. He got his way to play the central forward role for Brazil. He achieved his stated ambition to win gold and be the games' leading goal scorer. Along with the 38-year-old Dani Alves (now an incredible 42 career titles), Richy was clearly a team leader for Brazil.

His hold up play, his ball retention under pressure at close quarters, his clever drawing in of defenders and neat lay offs to freed up supporting players, even his defensive work in often being the one with the clearing header. All were top drawer.

Would I have him on penalty duty? No. DCL all day long for me.

Did he miss 'a sitter' yesterday as I've seen claimed on here? Did he bollocks!

He made a great run from the half way line which begged for the Brazilian wing man on the ball to play it to him just inside the penalty area. He took one touch to take control of the ball on the angle. He took another touch - foot on the ball to stop it completely - which wrong-footed and took the covering defender out of the game. He had Spain's #1 keeper Simon rushing out to beyond the 6-yard box to cut down Richarlison's shooting angles and he STILL got off a powerful shot through the keeper who was a very lucky boy with the ball somehow bouncing up BEHIND the keeper and hitting the bar.

Some sitter that. There was no chance. Richy created one.

He was in great form on the medal podium. FIFA president Infantino presented the medals. Richy's words to him when taking his medal?

'Next year it will be in Qatar, baldie!'

Laughing about it in a post-match interview, he said he couldn't remember Infantino's name so called him 'careca'.

He also said they partied all night and although he would like a rest, he is going directly to England as requested by Everton.

ZERO speculation on where he will be playing his footy this season, as much as the Brazilian media always wants to see its main men at the mega-clubs.

Believe me. If this season Richy plays to the levels he achieved at the Olympics, with the game awareness and maturity he displayed, Blues everywhere will have a lot to be happy about.

Jay,

Good to know you're still kicking and the family are all good.

I haven't watched the game yet but it's good to get that feedback.

I can't understand why people find so much to criticize about Richarlison. He is a major goal threat; even when he is not having a great game, he really puts a shift in.

If only we had 11 others like him.

Dave #34, best guess is #2 initially, but could sour into #1 if the team doesn't get results. He is not a player who can lead a club in my opinion, but one who can be very valuable when there is talent around him. We don't have enough of that, and we haven't added any this summer.

But yes, Dave, of course Brazil comes before Everton for Richarlison, as national team comes before club for most players. What English fans and commentators don't ever seem to recognize is that the "club before country" philosophy is pretty much exclusive to Britain.

I can tell you that for players on this side of the Atlantic, the idea of putting club before country is just plain ridiculous. Particularly in the Latin American nations, where nationalistic passion for football is often core to daily life.

Only players involved in disputes with their national associations, as Messi and Leon Bailey and Carlos Vela once were, would even consider declining a national team callup to stay with their clubs.

Congratulations to Richarlison winning a Gold Medal.

Well said, Mike Gaynes. I would go further than saying it's unique to the British. The "club before country" thing is even more fierce in places like Liverpool. Before that lot high-jacked the phrase, we Evertonians were collectively as guilty of the "Scouse, not English" mentality.

In London, there is much more of a lean towards the national team than I remember there being in Liverpool.

Anyway, pleased for the lad. He is passionate about playing for his country and this clearly means a lot to him. We have to remember, he's not from Speke or County Road. He's not a sentimental Everton fool like me, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Everton is a job for him. I hope he comes back and does it well this season.

Mike Gaynes @ 32

You might be right, he may well come back with a smile on his face and give us some decent games.

There is one thing though I'm sure of, he will at some point in the coming season pay for the whole previous season and those two tournaments in a row. I don't know when he'll slump, but he will!

Let's wait and see what kind of a contribution he makes over the entire season, he now has a good excuse for any future poor performances.

Danny, I think the 'club first' mentality is because the suits and their manager selected players from the capital ahead of our players and all the games were played at Wembley. How did Howard Kendall never get a cap? Because there were London players ahead of him.

How come it was only when Robson was injured and Wilkins sent off did England start performing in Mexico 86 when Stevens, Stephens and Reid came into the team?

More often than not, when one of ours was selected, they came back injured and, in more recent years, the younger stars have "had their heads turned".

So it has never been to our advantage or our credit and that is why we are club before country. Take the slating of Pickford who was probably our player of the Euros.

And add all into this – I would rather no Evertonian follow England abroad. That way, we can hold our head up high and say that we are not part of the yobbish set of supporters that makes a lot of us ashamed of the national team.

Jay (41), I never saw the football at the Olympics so don't know the standard of football so a question Jay, will it be harder in the premier league for Richarlison, where he has never had a consistent season in my opinion, than it was in the Olympics?.

Mike (43) you are correct I don't understand a player, any player, who puts country before club in playing football, most especially when that club is paying them the fabulous wages they are on now. Even if he comes back immediately he will need time to rest. Everton will suffer the consequences of this player being allowed to play in two tournaments during this summer when even one might have been too much.

Dave # 48, the foreign guys are not fans and never dreamed of playing for Everton (or others outside of the elite). They do it to earn money and get on in life.

Playing for Real, Barca and others of that stature is a bit different because it allows them to follow in the footsteps of Ronaldinho and Ronaldo etc (ie, their own boyhood heroes). Outside of that, playing international football gives them a chance to fulfil dreams and be with others far from home.

Bit different for UK players but even then players like Rooney have had long, distinguished careers and retired since Everton last won anything. No-one under 40 will consider us a big club – which means anyone playing now unless a died-in-the-wool Evertonian, will view us as a stepping stone.

Dave @ 48. That's a legitimate question about the comparative standard of football at the Olympics to that of the Premier League.

This was an unusual Olympics for obvious reasons and one consequence of the 12-month delay was that the rules were relaxed for the age qualification for players which (apart from allowing for a couple of over aged players - Brazil's Dani Alves at 38 being an extreme example) is normally limited to Under-23 players only.

They extended that age limit to make it an Under-24 tournament rather than unfairly punish players who would have legitimately qualified as Under-23 players a year ago. Indeed, Richarlison himself is a benefactor of this one-off rule change.

Personally, I enjoyed the Olympics football more than I did the Copa America which was very stale.

Spain, Brazil's opponents in the final, put out a very strong squad, including 6 from the Euros. Three of those were in the starting XI on Saturday: Simone the keeper, Man City's Eric Garcia, and that wonderful midfielder that caught your eye at the Euros, Olmo.

But no, the standard, whilst good, was not equal to the Premier League. But equally Richarlison had a very good tournament. Genuinely one of the standout players, even without his goals.

His workload will need to be managed and, even though his Olympics foray was a success, I remain opposed to allowing any player to play two summer tournaments, all the more so in these Covid-hit times.

ps: A teaser for you, Dave, one that's gone under the radar. What's the name of the other Everton first teamer who also appeared for his national team at this year's Olympics?

Tom #46,

Richarlison has faded in the second half of most of his professional seasons, whether or not he was active internationally in the summer. That's why squad rotation up front is so important. Everybody needs rest to get through a season.

Dave #48,

Money is great, no doubt all these guys love being paid millions to do something they love. But there's a special passion and pride that comes from playing for your country that no amount of money can buy (and, IMO, no English fan can possibly comprehend).

Did you happen to see Dani Alves after the Brazil game? Tears pouring down his face. This is the world's winningest footballer ever, 44 trophies, but with all his league titles and cups and Uefas and Con Cups and Gold Cups, he had never won a world title for his country. Now he has. And he was deeply emotional in a way that nothing he ever won for Barca or Sevilla or PSG could generate.

Jay #50, I know that one and won't give it away, but did he actually appear in the tournament? I didn't see him.

Yes Mike. He played one full game at the group stage. Picked up a yellow card for his troubles.

Jay(#53); Can you really call him a 1st teamer?

And apart from representing your country it could be lining up a TV commentator's job when retired from playing, club ambassador and do they still do after dinner speaking?

Oh, and Jay, don't forget the Ladies.

Jay & Mike G, I hate to be left in suspenders, not to mention the fishnets, basque, lippie and slap, but I haven't got a can of glue who you are talking about, and I'm sure many other TW'ers don't either. Name him and shame him!

I had the chance to watch some minutes of the semi and final. One of the commentators had nothing but praise for Richarlison to the extend that he is the current best footballer in the world.

Maybe some club will come and bid £100M for him soon?

On the subject of him being tired after playing in the Copa America and the Olympics, let's think about this... Most people work 5-6 days a week and don't get paid as much in a lifetime as he does in a season

It's his job. It was his choice to go to these competitions so tell me, is playing football as hard as digging ditches? I don't think so as I have done both and I did both of them at the same time and I dug ditches all day and trained 4 nights a week.

What I'm saying is, if his form drops, it won't be from tiredness. It will be from his form has just dropped, as it does for all players at times, or he is just sulking, as he is apt to do.

Derek #55.

Here's a clue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4OS17lqHiE

Jay and Mike, thanks for your replies, Jay I haven't got a clue who the other Everton player was who played at the Olympic Games, is he any good?

Dave, I haven't looked at Brian's YouTube link, but I'm guessing the other Everton player at the Olympics was Niels Nkounkou, as I remember seeing his name in the French squad. Don't know if he played or not?

Rob (61), yes you could be right, I went quickly through the squad but couldn't think of any player who appeared at these games, Thanks Rob, that's if you're right!!

So pleased for Richy...NOT.

THE BLUES before even the mighty (Lol) Brazil.

Please sell the sulky fuck!.

I think its a bit churlish not to congratulate Richarlison for winning a gold medal at the Olympics. Lets not forget that Salah also wanted to play for Egypt in the Olympics but his club refused to let him go. I know team GB never field any Premier league players but to some countries including Brazil they see this as a prestigious tournament to win, even Neymar has played at the Olympics.

Strange the ones who are complaining about him playing in the Olympics are his biggest critics when playing in a blue shirt. Yes it would have been better if he could have had a rest but he wanted to play and we should not hold that against him.

Neymar, Platini, Klinsmann, Bebeto, Romario, Guardiola and Victor Anichebe have all played at the Olympics so why wouldn't Richarlison want to follow that list?

Come on guys, who was it? I'm trying to guess without Googling and can't think who it is!

Phil @47, that's a fair point and probably why I've always felt the England thing was always owned by London and the south east with pockets of support, like in the West Midlands where my wife comes from.

I can't qualify it, so this is only going off many a bar conversation with former Scottish colleagues, but apparently the Scotland support predominantly comes from around the nation rather than the 2 Glasgow teams. I know it's got roots in sectarianism, which is not good, but I do have Glaswegian Celtic friends who follow the Republic of Ireland and Rangers ones who prefer England over Scotland. We are a confused country!

The Wembley thing is important in shaping it though. I didn't support the call to build the new national stadium in Birmingham when it was muted decades ago on the basis it being a more central location.

Probably because I experienced it as a young kid, but I think had we followed the German model, there would be more buy in nationally to the national team. They don't have a home stadium and rotate the games. They take Germany to the Germans, not just the Berliners because it's the capital. And don't forget, this is a country of 16 States, each with their own history, culture and parliaments. But they all unify behind the national team. I suppose 4 World Cups and 3 Euros plus countless runners up appearances help whip up support!!

We argue about having 4 "states" and then there is the English regional internal divisions. I done a quick look, the German national team has played in over 40 different German cities over the years. England should have adopted that years ago in my opinion. Cue debate about a UK / GB team!!

Brian post 64.

You say them other crowd refused to allow Salah to compete in the Olympics. That's exactly the point: they don't have another apparent yes-man as manager who is obviously just glad to have a job near home, no doubt with an obscene salary like the ones before him.

Gutless club top to bottom. Common denominator! You guessed it. That teary eyed twat total curse on us.

Danny (#66); I think the last time England took their matches on the road at home, they were beaten by Australia – as one Franny Jeffers may recall.

I can well understand the pride and desire in a player such as Richarlison gets from playing for his country, however should his first loyalty not be to the employer who pays him the enormous salary that has enabled him to help his family escape grinding poverty?

I've said it before but I hope he's had the decency to forego that salary for the period he'll be unavailable to actually earn it. Forlorn hope, I know!

Great that he's won a gold but does anyone know if Richarlison is back in the UK or gone to Brazil?

If he's in Brazil, then any idea as to when or if he reports back for training?

Interesting debate and dilemma Martin.

If you're Martin Nicholls or Danny O'Neill, lifelong Everton fan from Liverpool, I'd agree with you.

If you're Richarlison de Andrade who grew up in Brasil, a country where the footballing obsession is their national team, then maybe not.

I've worked for several employers, including HM Government. I've been loyal, been treated well and paid well (more recently, not by the Government!!). But my loyalties wouldn't be to an employer just because of that. Not when they can lay you off, dismiss you, or in the case of footballers, sell them against their will sometimes as they deem necessary.

We may all baulk at the wages modern footballers are on, but that's not their fault. It's the supply and demand nature of the business. And I hate calling it a business, but it is. The lad has worked incredibly hard on top of the talent he was blessed with to get where he has. That wasn't because of Everton. He doesn't owe Everton anything other than performing for us - that's a different discussion!!

He's from a different country and a different culture. Everton is his current employer, so as long as he does his job, I'm okay with him being loyal to his country.

Flipping the argument, I wonder how much of a retention exercise this has been allowing him to go? We'll miss him for a couple of games maybe, but hopefully there will be some mutual respect given back on the basis not many clubs would have done this.

But then this is football 2021!!

Danny - I'm with you on most of what you say but perhaps I used the wrong word in "loyalty". Maybe "priority" or "commitment" would have been better choices, my main objection to him putting country before club being that he still draws salary from that club whilst making himself unavailable to fulfil his contractual obligation to it.

As for players being sold against their will? Oh how I wish, when it comes to the likes of Delph, Iwobi, Tosun etc etc!

Richarlison should be back and ready to go.

The Olympics are over and he has another game at the weekend and, allowing for jet lag, should at least be on the bench as he has already been training with Brazil.

Everton were pretty toothless against Man Utd and way too friendly but I expect a much better display against the Saints, nothing less.

That's a good caveat to use, Martin. To be sold, they usually have to be half decent!!

One or two got Everton's mysterious football Olympian. Niels Nkounkou.

Played the full group game for France in a 4-3 win over South Africa. Yellow carded.

On Richy's likely return to England, based on his own live words Sunday morning as the team boarded the bus to leave for the airport, I expect he is already back in the UK.

'I would like a rest and to visit and see my family in Brazil, which I've only done once in 18 months, but Everton has asked me to return and that's where I'm going. '

That will probably be the case with all European based Brazilians in the squad, getting dropped off in Europe. Brazil had a perfect 50-50 split in their squad. Half made up of domestic based players, the other half overseas based.

Thanks Jay, I couldn't figure it out!

Hope to see more of him next season. He's got a job on his hands with Digne in front, mind. Europa League football would have been good for him.

Interesting debate over club or country, the honour of playing for your country versus loyalty to the club who pay your salary.

With me age might come into it and being loyal to the firm that pays my wages, I always earned my wages, did my job to the best of my ability, on one job there was a list out of people getting their comics and P45, it was a case of first in last out, I was on the list although I was one of the first to start on that particular job, I was elected to be the Stewards mate on the site so was considered to be a naughty boy by the bosses, even though, blowing my own trumpet, I was a good worker and good at my job.

I was told, along with a few others, I would be no longer needed on the Monday, and worked right through the week the same as I had for the previous two years doing my job, no bother, but was never employed again by that firm, blacklisted for being a union man, still earned my wages that last week I was there, a long winded story to say loyalty to the firm comes before loyalty elsewhere, ironic that the firm never showed any loyalty to me!!

Dave #77.

I guess one way of looking at it, Dave, is that they see playing for their club as a job and playing for their country as an honour and/or a privilege.

I fucked up the YouTube link clue, by the way.

And I see there's a whisper Brighton may be interested in replacing Ben White with Mason Holgate.

Brian (#78);

And they've got £50M burning a hole so we could even give them a choice. Had they been a bit quicker, they could even have taken a promising youngster on loan.

I think if they make a decent offer Alan the club will bite their hand off!

By all reports, Brian, that is the position we seem to be in but I wonder if the Manager sees it the same way?

It gets better, if reports are to be believed. Atalanta supposed to be considering Iwobi.
Quick tell Colin somebody!