Brazil win but old questions of mental focus persist

Swiss applaud victory, criticise celebrations

SOCHI, Russia, June 23, (RTRS): Brazil’s late World Cup win over Costa Rica takes them to the top of the Group E but they have failed to convince in their two matches so far and the focus is once again shifting to the South American side’s old foe — emotional stability.

Neymar broke down in tears when the final whistle went as the relief of two goals in stoppage time flooded out of him.

Pictures of the world’s most expensive player crying on the pitch after the 2-0 win on Friday brought back memories of four years ago when captain Thiago Silva sobbed uncontrollably ahead of the penalty kicks decider against Chile in the last 16.

Brazil were questioned at that tournament for their psychological readiness — the players’ looked seriously freaked by Neymar’s absence ahead of their 7-1 capitulation to Germany in the semifinal — and the same questions are starting to be asked now.

In a typically defiant post on Instagram, Neymar claimed his tears were of joy and his team mates defended his public display of emotion.

“I think you have to let it out, a great weight was lifted off our shoulders,” Thiago Silva said, in quotes reported by Globo’s website. “I told him that (crying) is good. Cry as much as you want, only you know what you went through to be at the World Cup.”

Brazil’s oscillating emotions were also laid bare in other comments made by Silva.

A team mate of Neymar’s at Paris St Germain, he said he was upset at his friend for swearing at him for returning the ball to the Costa Ricans in a show of fair play.

The tempestuous forward was, in addition, caught several times on camera swearing at the referee in Portuguese.

Neymar’s obsession with social media has undoubtedly opened him up to more criticism — and pressure — than ever but former players acknowledged even the most balanced individual is under massive stress in Russia.

“The demands on the players here at the World Cup are huge,” Ronaldo, who won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002, said in a TV Globo broadcast. “The team didn’t play bad but so much is expected of them.”

Switzerland’s 2-1 World Cup win over Serbia was given a mixed reaction by Swiss media who applauded their rousing second-half comeback

Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic cuts off a shot during the Group E match between Switzerland and Serbia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad, Russia on June 22.

(AP)

but criticised celebrations by scorers Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri which appeared to have political overtones.

After falling behind in the fifth minute, Switzerland defied a cauldronlike atmosphere created by fervent Serbian supporters as they hit back with a thunderbolt from Xhaka and a last-minute breakaway goal from Shaqiri.

Both players, who are ethnic Albanians and of Kosovar heritage, celebrated with a gesture which appeared to imitate the eagle displayed on Albania’s flag.

Serbia refuses to recognise the independence of its former province Kosovo, whose 1.8 million people are mostly ethnic Albanians, which broke away 10 years ago.

Second-generation immigrants from the Balkans have played a huge part in transforming the Swiss national side over the past 10 years.

Players such as Valon Behrami — playing at his fourth World Cup — Xhaka and Shaqiri have brought both raw talent and passion to a team which was not noted for either in the past.

But their efforts on Friday got a mixed reaction from the Swiss media, which showered praise on their performance but criticised their celebrations.

“Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka have talented feet like no one else in this national team. But their political sensitivity and social awareness let much to be desired,” said the Neue Zuercher Zeitung (NZZ).

The tabloid Blick took a similar line. “(Xhaka and Shaqiri played with real heart but forgot to keep cool heads when they celebrated, and that is the big flaw of this wonderfully stirring evening.”