Barcellos: Brazil deserved better

Brazil coach Jorge Barcellos was critical of Japan's tactics as his side's Olympic hopes were ended by a 2-0 quarter-final defeat at the Millennium Stadium. Brazil have never won gold and that wait will now extend until at least their home Games in Rio after goals from Yuki Ogimi and Shinobu Ohno helped Japan set up a semi-final meeting with France. Brazil dominated possession throughout but could not make it pay as Marta, Cristiane and Renata Costa all missed chances to find the net. And their profligacy was punished by a clinical Japan as the world champions profited from their incisive counter-attacking despite spending most of the contest penned back in their own half. And Barcellos accused Norio Sasaki's team of putting up a defensive "wall" in an attempt to stymie Brazil. When asked if Japan were now favourites to win the tournament, he said: "If they play like they did today, they are not. If they play the way they are, defending and playing like a wall, then I don't believe they will. "I am used to Japan playing from the back and passing the ball, this team that played today is not the team that has been playing, so they are not always going to be able to play like that and score. "That was the difference today, they had two chances and they took them. We created a lot of opportunities and from what we created we deserved a better result." Japan coach Sasaki agreed his side's approach had been defensive, but was unrepentant. "Of course Brazil are a very great team and today I felt that as well," he said. "The game was better than we expected, if we judge Brazil and Japan people might say Brazil are a better team. But in the Olympics we don't know what will happen and today we showed a good attitude to win, and I think we are a team that can go all the way to Wembley." From fifa