Neymar gets team backing

– Neymar (above) received the support of his Brazilian teammate Fagner on Sunday after his tears at the end of their World Cup win over Costa Rica and subsequent criticism at home.

The world’s most expensive player scored the second goal in the 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in Saint Petersburg last Friday that edged Tite’s side closer to qualifying for the last-16.

“Not everybody knows what I went through to get here,” Neymar said in an Instagram post after the match. “My tears were of happiness, overcoming, because of my determination and will to win.

“In my life things have never been easy, so why would they be now?”

But he has come in for criticism for his behaviour during the game at what he perceived to be rough treatment from the opposition, as well as for breaking down in tears at full-time.

“Every player is a human being so has feelings and is entitled to feel upset,” said Fagner at the Brazil team’s training base in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

“I believe the whole squad is with him and will support him. He is experienced and will come through this to keep giving his best for the national team.”

Neymar has huge pressure on his shoulders to deliver despite only returning from injury in the run-up to the World Cup.

“I can imagine what Neymar has gone through. I wasn’t sure I would be able to be here,” said Fagner, the Corinthians rightback who was named in the squad after Daniel Alves was forced to miss out due to a knee injury.

He had been an injury concern himself, but recovered and played against Costa Rica after Danilo was ruled out. – AFP

Sochi