Rio 2016: Gold digging Brazil footballers not bothered by bonuses

Brazil’s “dream” of a first football Olympic gold medal will not be blown off course by a row over bonus payments, insists defender Marquinhos with the hosts heavy favourites to see off Honduras in Wednesday’s semi-finals.

After touring round the country in Brasilia, Salvador and Sao Paulo, Brazil finally roll into Rio for their third consecutive Olympic semi-final expected to sweep aside the Central American outsiders in front of a full house at the iconic Maracana.

And Marquinhos stressed that national pride will overrule the Brazil players’ pay packets for a squad that includes multi-millionaires like Barcelona’s Neymar and Rafinha.

“We do not talk about bonuses, we have not reached a definite value (with the Brazilian federation),” Marquinhos said when pressed over how much each player would earn for landing gold.

“The dream for me, the team and the fans, is to be champions.”

Honduras have already seen off one South American heavyweight in Argentina to reach the last four.

Should Brazil make it back to the final, the fascinating prospect of a rematch with Germany, just two years on from the hosts 7-1 mauling at the hands of the world champions in the World Cup semi-finals, is in store as the Germans take on Nigeria in other semi-final.

USA, Argentina faceoff in basketball The USA’s NBA stars will face Argentina’s ageing but still scrappy “golden generation” in a compelling grudge match in the basketball knockout phase.

Spain will play European rivals France in another key quarter-final clash on Wednesday as the Olympic tournament's win-or-go-home match-ups fell into place. In the other quarter-finals, Australia meet Lithuania while Croatia and Serbia battle in a Balkan showdown.