Neymar on target again as Brazil beat Austria

VIENNA: Neymar marked his return to the starting line-up with another brilliant goal as Brazil eased to a 3-0 win over Austria here on Sunday in their final friendly ahead of the World Cup.

Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho netted either side of Neymar's strike at the Ernst Happel Stadion, as the world's most expensive player confirmed his return to fitness following a foot operation three months ago. It was an encouraging way for Tite's side to complete their preparations before their departure for their base in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

The Brazilians were due to arrive there in the early hours on Monday, ahead of their opening game at the tournament against Switzerland next Sunday.

Neymar's goal was his 55th in a Brazil shirt, allowing him to draw level with Romario on his country's list of all-time leading scorers -- only the great Pele and Ronaldo have scored more goals for Brazil than the Paris Saintgermain superstar.

The 26-year-old had come off the bench to score in last weekend's 2-0 win over Croatia in Liverpool, his first appearance since suffering a foot fracture playing for PSG in February and then returning to his homeland for surgery. He played 84 minutes in the Austrian capital after replacing Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho in the starting line-up, surviving a couple of bruising challenges from Austria's Watford defender Sebastian Proedl, who was booked in the second half.

Brazil, wearing black armbands in tribute to the country's tennis legend Maria Esther Bueno who died on Friday aged 78, had chances to go in front before Jesus opened the scoring in the 36th minute.

Marcelo's long-range shot was blocked, but the ball fell to Jesus inside the area and the Manchester City striker took a touch before finishing beautifully past Heinz Lindner in the Austrian goal. Jesus is Brazil's leading scorer under Tite's management, ahead of Neymar, who got his name on the scoresheet in the 63rd minute.

It was a quite superb effort, the former Barcelona man controlling Willian's chipped pass on his thigh just inside the box and then leaving Austrian defender Aleksandar Dragovic on the floor with some delightful footwork before rolling the ball home. Tempers had flared just before that with the Brazilians taking exception to tasty tackles on Neymar and Coutinho.

But their class told in the end as Neymar's goal was followed by a fine effort from Coutinho, who later also hit the bar from long range. KOLKATA: Shib Shankar Patra is one among thousands of diehard Argentina fans in Kolkata and there's nothing unusual about it.

But then die-hard fans at times can be weird too and the 53-year-old Patra has that weird streak in him.

Trying to garner enough savings from his modest earnings through a tea stall, Patra harboured a dream -- to watch 'The Albiceleste' live from the stands in Russia.

But when a Kolkata-based travel agent informed him that his savings -- a princely amount of Rs 60,000 (USD 900) is not enough to fund his World Cup trip (travel agent gave him a budget of Rs 1.5 lakh), he decided the next best thing --paint his entire three-storied building in Argentina colours.

"I don't smoke or drink. I have only one addiction and that is Lionel Messi and Argentina. I don't earn much but ensure that bulk of my earnings is kept aside for these indulgences when World Cup comes calling," Patra, owner of a tea and snack stall in North 24 Parganas' Nawabganj township, said.

You don't need a GPS to track Patra's house once you get down to Ichhapore Railway Station. Ask any cocky teenager or elderly uncle about "Argentina Chaayer Dokan" (Argentina Tea Stall), they will be more than happy to oblige.

The street leading up to his tea stall cum house is dotted with Argentina flags while a giant one flutters high making its presence felt.

Every four years coinciding with the World Cup, Patra, who runs his tea stall from the ground floor of his three-storied building, gives his building a fresh coat of light blue and white shade.

Enter his three-room apartment and the craziness hits you instantly. All the walls are painted in Argentina colour, even the small 'puja sthal' (where the idols of Gods and Goddesses are placed). The walls of each room adorns a life-size vinyl flex print poster of Messi.

Addiction can be contagious but if its 'Messi mania', Patra doesn't mind that his wife Swapna along with his children -- 20 year-old daughter Neha and 10-year -old son Shubham are equally mad about the fleet footed genius.

"My kids know everything about Messi. The food he likes, the car he drives, everything," Patra says with a glint of pride in his eyes.

"They don't miss a single match of Messi. If there's a late night match during the exams, they will pretend to sleep early but will watch live streaming on their cell phones," wife Sapna said.

There is one common thread of all Argentina fans in Bengal. The 1986 World Cup, which was aired live on Doordarshan turned Kolkatans into 'Maradona devotees'. Messi is an extension of Maradona.

"I have watched the Argnetina friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium. I lived a dream that day," Patra recollected.

It was the first time, he painted his house in Argentina colours, something he repeated in the 2014 edition of the World Cup as well.

Since 2012, the Patra family celebrates every Messi birthday with fanfare like cutting cake to organsing blood donation camp.