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SAO PAULO -- The last time Brazil played a major soccer tournament at home, Neymar was stretchered off the field and then missed an embarrassing loss against Germany in the 2014 World Cup semifinals.Two years later, the Barcelona star looks to rebound from that disappointment at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.Although the Olympic soccer tournament doesnt have the same importance of a World Cup, the Rio Games have a special meaning for the Brazilian striker. Neymar will be one of the games biggest stars and will carry the responsibility of leading the five-time world champions to their first soccer gold medal.Its a unique opportunity, he said. Not only for me, but for everyone on the team. We know how important this medal is.All eyes will be on the 24-year-old striker, who opted to play in the Olympics instead of the Copa America earlier this year. Brazil was eliminated in the group stage of that tournament, a result that prompted the firing of coach Dunga.Because its not an official FIFA tournament, teams are not required to release players for the Olympic tournament, but Neymar and the Brazilian soccer confederation negotiated with Barcelona so he could play in Rio.I know that this gold medal has eluded Brazil so far, and we will do everything to try to win it, Neymar told Brazilian television recently. Its rare that a country like Brazil, considered the land of football, still hasnt won this gold.It will be the second time Neymar will play for Brazil at the Olympics. He led the team that lost the 2012 final to Mexico in London, where the Brazilians were the heavy favorites. Brazil was runner-up twice before, in 1984 and 1988. It also won the bronze in 1996 and 2008, the last time with a squad that featured Ronaldinho and future stars like Marcelo and Thiago Silva.Neymar is special, one of the best players in the world, said Rogerio Micale, who replaced Dunga as coach of the Olympic team. Any team can benefit from a player like him. He will mean a lot to us. I think that he will be able to lead the youngsters in the squad.Neymar will be one of the three over-23 players each nation is allowed to add to its roster. The other two are 38-year-old Palmeiras goalkeeper Fernando Prass and 28-year-old Beijing Guoan midfielder Renato Augusto, who have far less international experience than Neymar.No other player will attract as much attention -- from fans, media and opposing teams -- as Neymar.Im honored to be in this team, because I know how difficult it is to win an Olympic medal in any sport, he said. With football its even more difficult because if you are not the champion, people see it differently.Neymar is facing extra pressure after Dunga was fired for the second time from the national team. Without the experienced coach by his side, Neymar will carry the fate of the team, and the striker can become a national hero if he wins the gold, or join a long list of stars -- Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, among others -- who have failed in the pursuit of the gold.I never run away from the responsibility. Im used to it, Neymar said. We have another great opportunity to win an Olympic medal, and hopefully this time it will be the gold.Neymar also had a prominent role at the World Cup in Brazil two years ago, when he played up to expectations until breaking a bone in his back in the quarterfinals against Colombia and missing the rest of the tournament. Brazil eventually was eliminated after an embarrassing 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinals.I dont compare tournaments. I just like winning every tournament that I play, Neymar said. All of them are important for me. Each has its own history, its own characteristic, but they are all important.Brazil had a favorable draw and will face South Africa, Iraq and Denmark in Group A, making its debut Aug. 4 against South Africa in Brasilia. In the quarterfinals, the hosts could face Colombia or Nigeria, two youth powerhouses.The final will be played Aug. 20 at Maracana Stadium in Rio.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoni Curtis DeLoatch Jersey Retro . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. 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HONOLULU -- As good as Angel Delgado was on offense in Seton Halls 60-57 win over California Wednesday, he knew the game would be decided on defense.Delgado recorded his third straight double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds and Seton Hall did just enough defensively to escape with two wins in as many days at the Pearl Harbor Invitational.After withstanding Californias 52 percent shooting from the field in the first half, the Pirates (7-2) turned the tables in the second by holding the Bears (7-2) to 35.7 percent.I told the guys that we had to get stops. Theyre going to score, because theyre a really good team, but we had to get stops because thats how you win the game, said Delgado, who pulled down a pivotal defensive rebound in the closing seconds.Delgado, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward, made 6 of 9 shots from the field in a game-high 36 minutes played. It was his fifth double-double of the season and 28th of his career.Hes a big, physical player, California coach Cuonzo Martin said. He posts up strong, he posts up deep, he knows how to use his body, he knows where he wants to get offensively and I thought he did a great job really establishing himself in the post, getting to the free-throw line, getting offensive rebounds, so overall I thought he played a good game.Desi Rodriguez scored 15 points and Khadeen Carrington had 14 points with four assists for the Pirates.Carrington tied it at 45 with just under 12 minutes to play on a 3-pointer from the right wing, which ignited a 7-0 Seton Hall run. California never regained the lead.Ivan Rabbs putback pulled the Golden Bears within 58-57 with 31.1 seconds remaining, but Carrington and Delgado each hit a free throw to extend the Pirates lead to 60-57 with 2.7 seconds left.Jabari Bird had a chance to send it into overtime, but his 3-pointer from about 25 feet as time expired was no good.Bird came off the bench to lead California with 22 points and nine rebounds.California closed out the first half with an 11-4 run to turn a four-point deficit into a 34-31 lead.It was just the second meeting between the teams with Californnia winning 81-76 on Dec.dddddddddddd 8, 1973.BIG PICTURECalifornia: Rabb, a 6-11 sophomore, struggled for the second consecutive game. He made just 3 of his 8 shots from the field and finished with eight points after being held to a season-low six points against Princeton Tuesday. Rabb, who has been playing with a left wrist injury, entered Wednesdays game averaging 17.5 points per game.Seton Hall: The Pirates reeled off their third straight win despite making just 9 of their 20 attempts (45 percent) from the free-throw line. They shot just 46.6 percent (21 of 45) on free throws for the two-day tournament.HIGHLIGHT REELThe teams exchanged thunderous dunks within a 10-second span with about four minutes left in the game. Rodriguez threw down a left-handed windmill jam for Seton Hall before Bird outraced the Pirates defense for a transition dunk of his own that drew loud cheers from the crowd of about 2,000 spectators that was mostly made up of military service men and women.HE SAID ITI dont think anything is going to make that plane ride feel any shorter besides Ambien, Willard said of the nearly 5,000-mile return trip from Honolulu to New Jersey.DAY OF REMEMBERANCEWednesday was the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor, which marked the beginning of World War II. A heavy military presence was on hand for both days of the event, which was held at Bloch Arena on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.Its great because being here is a pleasure, Delgado said. Not everybody can be here, playing in front of people that will die for you. Thats really something. Its really special to have this opportunity.Peter Dupre, a 97-year old World War II veteran who served a medic treating the wounded at the Battle of the Bulge, performed the national anthem on harmonica .UP NEXTCalifornia will host UC Davis Saturday, its seventh home game in nine contests this season.Seton Hall goes to New York City to face No. 19 South Carolina at Madison Square Garden Monday. ' ' '