Brazil 2-0 Costa Rica
There’s nothing in football quite like schadenfreude – the pleasure derived from someone else’s misfortune.
So little over 12 hours after seeing their greatest rivals collapse in front of the world, this could well have been an occasion for some form of revenge.
For the Brazilians who had to endure Argentinian taunts after the infamous 7-1 rout by Germany in 2014, watching Jorge Sampaoli’s chaotic mess of a side fall to Croatia last night must have been pretty enjoyable.
Yet, despite this result, this wasn’t exactly a performance that will inflict more misery nor suggest that the World Cup 2018 will prove the scene of an exorcism for a nation.
Highlights of the game
That is because Brazil did not fully convince nor have everything their own way in the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg against a spirited but limited Costa Rica.
Although for the most part, they had measured control, there remains a suspicion this Brazil side could struggle against physicality. The fact their number 10 goes down far too easily does little to quash that debate.
Thankfully, the Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers was alert to his ease to go to ground.
In fairness, the pressure on Neymar to deliver at this World Cup is unremitting in the South American nation that has a love/hate relationship with their Number 10.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward still offered the best hope of Brazil breaking the deadlock even if there remained a curious inhibition to much of Brazil’s football initially.
A repeat of a victory famous in Costa Rican footballing history was always unlikely, although Celso Borges came close to breaking the deadlock in the 13th minute. Brazil slowly got on top to look a bit more like the nation fancied by so many in the World Cup 2018 betting community.
Keylor Navas denied Neymar, and Marcelo fired wide as Brazil upped the ante just before the half-hour mark. The full-back then forced a save from his Real Madrid team-mate as the half drew to a close.
Neymar was in the thick of the action after the restart and was perhaps fortunate to avoid a booking for colliding with Navas after the Costa Rican shot-stopper had the ball in his hands.
Costa Rica somehow survived as Gabriel Jesus immediately thudded a header against the bar with Navas beaten.
The rebound eluded Paulinho but Philippe Coutinho’s goal-bound shot from the cutback was diverted wide, again by the legs of the impressive Navas.
My SBOBET tips at this stage were on a Brazil rout, but Navas was holding firm.
First, he superbly tipped away Neymar’s effort from a Paulinho cross. Then he denied a clipped Coutinho shot after substitute Douglas Costa and Jesus combined.
If Costa Rica had been a bit more alert on the counter-attack, it could have been extremely frustrating for the five-time world champions, appearing in their 21st consecutive tournament.
It opened up as the game entered its final quarter.
Neymar was inches away from curling in the opener after Cristian Gamboa inadvertently directed the ball into his path, but Costa Rica kept their cool and their shape to frustrate the Samba boys.
Petulant Neymar’s day was summed up when Giancarlo Gonzalez put his arm on his opponent in the area and a penalty was awarded despite very little contact.
However, the brave but correct Kuipers consulted VAR and overturned his decision, acknowledging the easy way the Brazil No 10 again theatrically went down.
Neymar went into the book moments later for an act of petulance and threw the ball to the ground.
Navas kept out Coutinho and Casemiro as the pressure remained high. But just when it seemed Costa Rica had kept alive their hopes of progression came the decisive moment.
Marcelo delivered the cross, Roberto Firmino headed the ball across to Jesus who miscontrolled the ball straight into the path of Coutinho, and Navas was finally beaten.
Brazil had the breakthrough, and Costa Rican were crestfallen.
Neymar added a second in the seventh minute of stoppage time to end his day on a high.
Brazil are off the mark but Neymar has won a few friends.
Key statistics
Brazil have now won 10 of their 11 previous internationals against Costa Rica, losing only in a friendly in March 1960.
Brazil are now unbeaten in their last 14 World Cup group games, winning 11 and drawing three.
Brazil have topped their first-round group in every World Cup since 1982 and last failed to progress past this stage in 1966.
This was the third meeting between Brazil and Costa Rica at the World Cup with the Brazilians triumphing 1-0 at Italia 90 and 5-2 in 2002.
Costa Rica have toiled in front of goal at the finals, scoring just once in their last five World Cup games.
Costa Rica have now lost five World Cup matches in a row.
Christian Bolanos, who entered the fray as a 54th-minute substitute, has become the first Costa Rican international to play at three World Cups.
What’s next?
The final set of World Cup 2018 results will determine who makes up the last 16.
Brazil will clash with Serbia in the Otkrytie Arena in Moscow with Los Ticos facing Switzerland in Novgorod at the same time.
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