Brazil national under-23 football team competition. The game was marred by numerous fouls and two ejections for Brazil. Argentina won 3–0. In the bronze medal match, Brazil beat Belgium 3–0. Brazil, under coach Mano Menezes, was defeated by Mexico 2–1 in the gold medal match, played on 11 August, after beating Egypt, Belarus and New Zealand in the preliminary round, Honduras in the quarter-finals and South Korea in the semi-finals. Before the Games, they beat Great Britain 2–0 in a friendly game. Brazil finished in the first position in the group stage, ahead of Denmark (won 4–0), Iraq (tied 0–0) and South Africa (tied 0–0).
Football at the 1981 Maccabiah Games Football at the 1981 Maccabiah Games Football at the 1981 Maccabiah Games was held in Israel starting on 7 July. The competition was open for men's teams only. A record number of 20 teams took part in the competition. South Africa won their first gold medal, beating USA 3–1 in the final. This was the first time since 1935 that the hosts finished outside the top two. Israel's 1–2 loss to South Africa in the semi-finals was their first loss since 1961, after 24 unbeaten matches (21 wins, 4 draws). The 20 teams were divided into four groups of five,