Big boys do cry says the Brazil coach
NEYMAR’S tears at the end of the win over Costa Rica should not be seen as emotional weakness, says Brazil coach Tite.
After all, he too has cried at the end of a game.
Neymar, above, wept after Brazil scored twice in stoppage time to win, a reaction that led the Brazilian media to suggest their team were brittle.
“We mustn’t think that a moment of emotion is a sign of emotional imbalance,” said Tite on the eve of the match against Serbia, against whom Brazil need only a draw to qualify.
“I understand there has to be a balance between reason and emotion and there is a moment when you need ice calm and lucidity.”
Tite then remembered he also cried after Brazil won 3-0 away to Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier in his first match in charge two years ago.
“I want to tell the whole Brazilian nation that I cried,” he added.
“When I called my wife I cried with happiness, with satisfaction. I cried with pride, as we were under so much pressure to play a good game.”
Tite added that Brazil had refused to allow desperation to creep in as they pressed for a goal against Costa Rica – a sign of mental strength.
“What is maintaining your gameplan? It’s when you score a goal in the 91st minute by playing with the style the team has been playing from the start.
“I was very happy with the way we reacted emotionally,” he said.
There was also fighting talk from Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic, who said: “We have no fear of Brazil but we have to be patient, disciplined and play as a team. We have to satisfy the Serbian nation.
“We have nothing to lose but if we are not ready to give our all, then we will have lost. You may lose but you must not shirk your responsibility.”
Serbia will progress if they win. GERMANY will be without Sebastian Rudy for their decisive World Cup match against South Korea after the midfielder broke his nose in the dramatic win over Sweden.
The world champions revived their campaign with the last-gasp victory and now need to beat the Koreans by two goals to guarantee progress.
With centre-back Jerome Boateng suspended after being sent off against the Swedes, German coach Joachim Low said he was down to 18 players.
“With Sebastian, it’s two or three days too early for him,” said Low. “His nose is broken in several places and he couldn’t play even with a mask.
“But Mats Hummels is able to play. He has trained for the last two days.”
Rudy had replaced out-of-form World Cup winner Sami Khedira in the midfield in Russia as Low put more emphasis on defence to try and stem the number of goals they had been conceding.
Hummels missed the Sweden game with a neck injury but should return to the centre of defence.
At the other end, Low suggested striker Thomas Muller, goalless after two games having scored 10 in two previous World Cups, would be retained.
“After the Mexico match we had a long chat,” said the coach. “He’s very open to comments and highly self-critical and, despite one or two negative matches, he has a positive outlook and he’s a very important player for us.”
Low added that it was important the “pure elation” the players felt after rescuing the win against Sweden was quickly replaced by resolute focus on their next match. “Of course we weren’t completely hysterical, we knew it was a small step on our path to the round of 16,” he said. “The euphoria subsided quickly and it was back to business the next day.
“We will see whether we can carry this momentum on. In 2014, remember, we beat Portugal 4-0 but then drew 2-2 with Ghana.”
Germany will need to win by two goals to secure a place in the last 16 – but could still go though with a draw – as they seek to avoid a first opening-round exit since 1938.
Low said that while he would have someone keeping tabs on the Mexican match, he would prefer it if Germany removed any doubt.
“We need to have clarity in our own result,” he said. “We know what we need to do and we’ll look at our own performance, will try to be the masters of our own destiny.”
Korean hopes of reaching the last 16 are also still alive despite losses in their first two matches.
They will go through if they beat Germany by two goals and Mexico beat Sweden.
Coach Shin Tae-Yong said: “To be honest, Germany are a lot stronger than us and it won’t be easy. But the ball is round, anything can happen, and I believe there will be chances.
“Mexico beat Germany so there is hope for us. Although it’s likely that Germany will have more possession, we will do our best. It will be a last-ditch effort.”