Coutinho, Neymar provide stoppage-time relief
Philippe Coutinho and Neymar broke down dogged Costa Rica in injury time on Friday, sealing a 2-0 win for Brazil that propels the five-time champions towards the World Cup last 16. The Central Americans looked likely to hold on for a hardearned draw, particularly after Neymar had a penalty award chalked off by referee Bjorn Kuipers after he consulted the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
But Coutinho and Neymar finally broke through, scoring in the 91st and 97th minute to put Tite’s side on the brink of the knockout stages. At the final whistle, Neymar sat down on the grass and wept, with the emotion of victory hitting home after the tense Group E contest at the Saint Petersburg Stadium.
Neymar started despite limping out of training on Tuesday with a hurt ankle. Brazil enjoyed a gradual crescendo during the first period but their dominance
It was an attempt from close that was thwarted by his Barcelona teammate Rakitic.
‘WE RESPECT MESSI’
Croatia defender Dejan Lovren said they hadn’t made any specific plan for Messi. “We had a plan for Argentina, not for him,” he told reporters in the mixed zone.
“We respect Messi because he is the greatest player in the world but he is also stoppable. We did it together today, defending as a team.”
Messi entered the pitch head bowed and was seen rubbing his forehead when the teams lined up for the national anthems. Even before the second half started, he looked like a man more world weary than one playing for the World Cup.
Argentina began shakily and couldn’t recover from goalie in possession was not reflected in chances created.
Neymar faced the most devoted of markers in Costa Rica’s Cristian Gamboa, the Brazilian spending most of the half hopping over scything tackles or dodging past a barging shoulder.
One sumputous Neymar flick sent the ball flying over Gamboa’s head and later he made an excellent run onto Coutinho’s pass, only to squander the chance with a heavy touch.
Marcelo, Coutinho and Neymar, however, hardly make for the most conscientious combination out wide and when Johan Venegas ran clear down the right, his pullback should have been converted by Celso Borges, who skewed past the post.
Brazil might have had a penalty when Oscar Duarte blocked Paulinho at a corner and Costa Rica rode their luck again. Jesus’s header crashed against the crossbar and after some excellent work by Paulinho, Coutinho’s follow-up hit the everpresent Gamboa on the line. Neymar Willy Caballero’s attempt to play out from the back that led to Ante Rebic’s swinging rightfoot shot that put Croatia in front.
Largely anonymous before that, Messi flickered only briefly after it. “The reality of the squad clouds Messi’s brilliance. Leo is limited because the team doesn’t gel,” Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said in his post-match press conference.
Diego Maradona had arrived at the stadium minutes before the start. If one needed a reminder of his popularity, Argentine fans at the stadium gave one when the giant screen showed him. A loud roar filled the ground.
DISTRAUGHT DIEGO
As evening bled into night, you understood how desultory Argentina were just by looking fired over from Paulinho’s cutback and Coutinho shot straight at Keylor Navas after, again, Paulinho had teed it up.
With 20 minutes left, Gamboa made his first mistake and Neymar should have capitalised. A sloppy touch allowed the striker to cut inside from the left but his bending finish curved around the outside of the post.
With just over 10 minutes left, Neymar’s turn prompted Giancarlo Gonzalez to lose his footing and put his arm across the Brazilian’s chest. Neymar arched back as if losing his balance before falling to the ground. Kuipers pointed to the spot but reversed his decision after reviewing.
Costa Rica’s resistance finally ended in the 91st minute. Marcelo’s deep cross was kept alive by Roberto Firmino and a loose touch by Jesus dribbled perfectly into Coutinho’s path. Six yards out, he sidefooted home. Costa Rica conceded again right at the death. Substitute Douglas Costa squared for Neymar to finally find the net.
STPETERSBURG:
at Maradona’s face.
Towards the end of the game, there was little to no reaction from the Argentina fans whenever Maradona appeared on the screen.
A large portion of the stadium had been filled with fans from Argentina and they had ensured the atmosphere at the ground never dampened despite their team’s disintegration.
It wasn’t till Modric struck with a thunderous right-footer from long range that the Croatian section of fans could outsing the Argentines.
By the time Ivan Rakitic scored the third, Argentina’s 12th man had lost their voice. The humiliation was complete.
With one point from two games, Argentina’s fate isn’t in their hands anymore. Even a win against Nigeria may send Messi home early. Coutinho 90'+1' Neymar 90'+7' Off target
9
Rebic 53' Modric 80' Rakitic 90'+1 Off target
6
On target
14
On target
9
Off target
4
On Off target target
3
On target
0
FOULS OFFSIDES YELLOW CARDS
7
FOULS OFFSIDES YELLOW CARDS