WEMBLEY, Inglaterra (AP) — Neymar lo quiso hacer todo y no hizo nada. Sandro estaba descontrolado, peleándose con Rafael.

La imagen final de Brasil en el partido que perdió 2-1 con México por el oro olímpico fue lastimosa. La derrota no solo lo dejó sin el único trofeo importante que nunca ha ganado, sino que planteó dudas respecto al proyecto que adelantan los brasileños con miras a ser protagonistas de la Copa Mundial a jugarse en su tierra en el 2014.

"Todavía nos falta algo", declaró el técnico de Brasil Mano Menezes, quien reconoció la superioridad de México.

Brasil lo había apostado todo a este torneo y trajo un equipo dirigido por el técnico de la selección mayor e integrado por jugadores llamados a ser la base del conjunto que jugará el Mundial. Incluido Neymar, el artista del balón que supuestamente va a marcar la diferencia.

Los brasileños se pasearon a lo largo del torneo, enfrentando a rivales de poca monta, muy distintos a los que los esperarán en la Copa Mundial. México fue probablemente el primer contrincante serio y desnudó muchas falencias en el equipo verdeamarelo.

Los mexicanos encontraron un gol tempranero y no tuvieron problemas para contener luego a un equipo brasileño sin ideas, que no logró apoderarse del mediocampo y no supo preparar el terreno para que Neymar y Oscar generasen peligro. El goleador Leandro Damiao, que llevaba anotadas seis dianas, fue casi un espectador.

"Nos anotaron temprano y no supimos reaccionar", declaró Menezes. "Ese gol nos estropeó toda la planificación. Tuvimos que empezar a hacer cambios sobre la media hora porque necesitábamos más volumen ofensivo".

Poco después de la media hora, Hulk entró por Alex Sandro y le dio un poco más de vitalidad al ataque brasileño. "Pero no nos alcanzó", dijo Menezes.

El técnico afirmó que no se puede culpar a Rafael por la derrota. "Nos anotaron a los 30 segundos. Tuvimos 89 minutos para revertir el resultado y no lo hicimos", indicó

Atacando poco, México creó más situaciones de gol que los brasileños, en buena medida aprovechando lagunas defensivas.

En el primer gol, Rafael, del Manchester United, perdió un balón cerca de su área y Oribe Peralta anotó desde 20 metros. En el segundo, el mismo Peralta cabeceó libre de marcas en el centro del área.

En la parte creativa también se encendieron las luces de alarma, porque Oscar y Neymar estuvieron muy aislados del resto. Oscar fue absorbido totalmente por la marca de Carlos Salcido, Héctor Herrera y Jorge Enríquez en el medio. Neymar se mostró más, pero no terminó de encontrar su lugar en el terreno. Jugó generalmente lejos del arco y no se acopló con el resto.

A Brasil le costará ajustar las tuercas ya que no tiene que participar en las eliminatorias del Mundial, pues por ser país sede se clasifica automáticamente.

"El resultado no puede afectar el trabajo", sostuvo Menezes. "No podemos cambiar todo por una derrota en una final. Hay que sacar conclusiones y hacer los ajustes necesarios".

El técnico opinó que el revés "no debería tener un impacto negativo en el proceso de maduración del equipo. A veces se aprende más de las derrotas".

El revés, no obstante, representa un golpe psicológico grave.

Si bien el título olímpico es un trofeo de importancia relativa en el fútbol, reservado ahora para equipos menores de 23 años (aunque con tres excepciones) y al que nunca se le dio demasiada relevancia, para un país con los pergaminos de Brasil el no haberlo ganado nunca es una espina que tiene atravesada en el cuello.

El propio Pelé, que salió campeón mundial tres veces con Brasil, nunca llegó a jugar un torneo olímpico y dijo que lamenta no haber tenido la oportunidad de darle ese cetro a su país.

Con el correr de los años fue creciendo el sentido de urgencia, sobre todo desde que Argentina, archirrival de los brasileños, añadió ese título a su palmarés. Los argentinos conquistaron los dos últimos torneos olímpicos y jugaron también la final del de 1996 en Atlanta, que perdieron ante Nigeria.

Brasil comenzó a darle prioridad a esta competencia y armó equipos que se suponía eran muy competitivos. Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Bebeto y Roberto Carlos son algunas de las figuras que desfilaron por sus alineaciones olímpicas. La lista de técnicos que intentaron darle a su país su primer oro incluye a Mario Zagallo (1996), Vanderlei Luxemburgo (2000) y Dunga (2008).

Pero los resultados no se dieron.

Esta fue la tercera final que perdió Brasil, que cayó ante Francia en 1984 y la Unión Soviética en 1988. Desde entonces cosechó apenas dos preseas de bronce, la de 1996, cuando sucumbió en las semifinales ante Nigeria, y la de hace cuatro años en Beijing, donde cayó en la misma instancia ante Argentina, que se llevó su segundo oro consecutivo con un equipo liderado por Lionel Messi.

"Todos sabemos que necesitamos ganar el oro", comentó el técnico Mano Menezes. "Es algo que nunca hemos ganado".

Menezes y Brasil tendrán que seguir esperando.

Loading Slideshow...

  • Mexico players celebrate with their gold medals during a ceremony following their win in themen's soccer final against Brazil at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

  • Mexico's players celebrate on the podium

    Mexico's players celebrate on the podium of the men's football final at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico defeated Brazil 2-1. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • London Olympic Games - Day 15

    Mexico's Giovani Dos Santos celebrates victory in the Football Men's Gold Medal Match between Mexico and Brazil at Wembley Stadium, on day 15 of the London 2012 Olympics.

  • London Olympic Games - Day 15

    Mexico's Giovani Dos Santos (5th left) and team-mates during their national anthem as they celebrate victory in the Football Men's Gold Medal Match between Mexico and Brazil at Wembley Stadium, on day 15 of the London 2012 Olympics.

  • South Korea players celebrate with their bronze medals during a ceremony following the men's soccer final between Brazil and Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Olympics Day 15 - Men's Football Final - Brazil v Mexico

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Oscar of Brazil, Neymar of Brazil and Hulk of Brazil look on with their silver medals during the medal ceremony for the Men's Football Final between Brazil and Mexico on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium on August 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

  • Mexico's forward Oribe Peralta (top, C)

    Mexico's forward Oribe Peralta (top, C) is carried by Mexico's midfielder Javier Cortes as the players celebrate winning the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium in London during the London Olympic Games on August 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO / MARTIN BERNETTI (Photo credit should read MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Mexico's players celebrate after winning

    Mexico's players celebrate after winning the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Brazil players walk on the field after being defeated by Mexico in the men's soccer final between at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

  • Mexico's forward Marco Fabian celebrates

    Mexico's forward Marco Fabian celebrates after winning the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Olympics Day 15 - Men's Football Final - Brazil v Mexico

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Diego Reyes of Mexico celebrates winning the goal medal after victory in the Men's Football Final between Brazil and Mexico on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium on August 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

  • Mexico's players celebrate after winning

    Mexico's players celebrate after winning the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Brazil's and Mexico's players greet each

    Brazil's and Mexico's players greet each other after the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIA (Photo credit should read DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Mexico's Oribe Peralta reacts during the men's soccer final against Brazil at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Brazil's and Mexico's players greet each

    Brazil's and Mexico's players greet each other after the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIA (Photo credit should read DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Mexico's forward Oribe Peralta (top, C)

    Mexico's forward Oribe Peralta (top, C) is carried by Mexico's midfielder Javier Cortes as the players celebrate winning the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium in London during the London Olympic Games on August 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO / MARTIN BERNETTI (Photo credit should read MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Mexico's players celebrate after winning

    Mexico's players celebrate after winning the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Brazil's Marcelo, left, kicks the ball under pressure from Mexico's Hector Herrera, right, during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

  • Mexico's Carlos Salcido (3) and Jorge Enriquez (14) battle for the ball with Brazil's Hulk (12) during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

  • Brazil's Neymar, center, reacts as Mexico's Israel Jimenez (2) walks by during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Brazil's defender Thiago Silva (L) confo

    Brazil's defender Thiago Silva (L) conforts Brazil's defender Marcelo after the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIA (Photo credit should read DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Brazil's Neymar reacts during the men's soccer final against Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Brazil's forward Neymar reacts after the

    Brazil's forward Neymar reacts after the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIA (Photo credit should read DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Olympics Day 15 - Men's Football Final - Brazil v Mexico

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Neymar of Brazil (L) and Juan Jesus of Brazil show their dejection after the Men's Football Final between Brazil and Mexico on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium on August 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

  • Mexico's Darvin Chavez, right, Brazil's Hulk, left, battle for possession during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

  • Brazil's Neymar reacts during the men's soccer final against Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Brazil's Neymar reacts during the men's soccer final against Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Mexico's Carlos Salcido (3) and Hiram Mier (4) watch Brazil's Neymar (11) fall on the play during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Brazil's Rafael Cabral (1) reacts during the men's soccer final against Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

  • Brazil's Neymar (11) reacts as Mexico's Jorge Enriquez (14) watches during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

  • Mexico's Marco Fabian (8), front, with Brazil's Romulo during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

  • Brazil's Neymar (11) falls during the men's soccer final against Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

  • Brazil's Neymar lies on the ground during the men's soccer final against Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

  • Brazil's Rafael Cabral attempts to block Mexico's Marco Fabian (8) during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

  • Mexico's Oribe Peralta scores during the men's soccer semifinal match between Japan and Mexico at the Wembley stadium, at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Japan's Maya Yoshida, center, vies for the ball with Mexico's Oribe Peralta, left, and Javier Aquino, right, during their semifinal soccer match at Wembley Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

  • Japan's Maya Yoshida, right, heads the ball while Mexico's Raul Jimenez watches during the men's soccer semifinal match between Japan and Mexico at Wembley Stadium, at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Japan's Yuki Otsu, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Maya Yoshida, right, during their men's soccer semifinal match against Mexico at Wembley Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

  • Mexico's Hiram Mier, left, heads the ball with Japan's Kensuke Nagai, during the men's soccer semifinal match between Japan and Mexico at the Wembley stadium, at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Japan's Yuki Otsu scores during the men's soccer semifinal match between Japan and Mexico at Wembley Stadium, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Japan's Keigo Higashi, center, vies for the ball with Mexico's Israel Jimenez, right, and Diego Reyes, during the men's soccer semifinal match between Japan and Mexico at Wembley Stadium, at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Mexico's Marco Fabian, left, celebrates with his teammate Diego Reyes after scoring during the men's soccer semifinal match between Japan and Mexico at Wembley Stadium, at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Jorge Enriquez

    Mexico's Jorge Enriquez, bottom, celebrates his goal with teammate Mexico's Javier Aquino, top, against Senegal during their quarterfinal men's soccer match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

  • Mexico's Javier Aquino celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the men's soccer quarterfinal match against Senegal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

  • Mexico's Javier Aquino, bottom right, celebrates with team amtes Giovani Dos Santos (10) and Jorge Enriquez after scoring his side's second goal during the men's soccer quarterfinal match against Senegal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

  • Senegal's Moussa Konate, center, tries to score next to Mexico's goalkeeper Jose Corona and Mexico's Diego Reyes during their men's soccer quarterfinal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

  • Mexico's Jorge Enriquez celebrates after scoring during their men's soccer quarterfinal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

  • Mexico's Jorge Enriquez, not seen, scores his side's opening goal during the men's soccer quarterfinal match against Senegal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)