FEAR WE GO
Phil wants rivals to be scared
Philippe Coutinho reckons Brazil must restore the fear factor if they are to rule in Russia.
The Samba stars needed late goals from Coutinho and Neymar to see off Costa Rica on Friday after labouring to a 1-1 draw with the Swiss in their opener.
And for Coutinho a top showing against Serbia on Wednesday is vital to show why Brazil are one of the tournament favourites.
He said: “We need to put in a performance that not only wins the game but helps make other people fear Brazil in this tournament.
“We haven’t talked about failure, we’ve just talked about how we can improve.
“The whole thing about the World Cup is every game is so big and you can’t think ahead. Just to be here and play for Brazil is what I’ve always dreamed of.
“This is how we have to face our last match of the group. We must be calm because we need the points.”
Ex- Liverpool star Coutinho will revive a Premier League rivalry in Moscow this week when he plays Serbia – who trail BrazilandSwitzerland by one point in Group E.
He will come face to face with Manchester United’s Nemanja Matic.
And it’s a match-up played out time and again in England, not just in the north-west derby but in the days when the Serb ran midfield for Chelsea.
Barcelona ace Coutinho said: “Serbia are always a hard team. They’ll battle to the end. Before the World Cup I would have said the aim is to have the group decided before facing them.
“But we know what to expect. Matic is a player I know well. It’s not a personal challenge as we’re meeting in Russia not Liverpool or Manchester but I’ll be ready.
“But I have to say with Brazil we trust in what we do rather than worry so much about the others.”
Coutinho, who wasn’t part of the squad which failed in in Brazil in 2014, clearly feels very at home in yellow and blue. During a recent press conference a journalist showed a photo of a young curly-haired Coutinho.
Asked what advice he would give to that boy he said: “At that age, I always dreamed about the Brazil jersey, so this is one of the very important moments in my career.
“Looking at this picture, this is where I started. I know the haircut has changed. But I want that boy to keep dreaming big and he still is.”