World Cup Match Review - Brazil vs Costa Rica: Everyone is a Talisman

Credits: Goal.com

Neymar has to stop doing what he thinks is right, and he has to do it, fast.

The time for over-reliance of one player in the Brazilian camp has long gone, and it’s time Neymar drops the talisman tag he thinks he deserves.

In a match which saw Costa Rica do what the underdogs do best, and to some extent, spoiling the game, Brazil were relentless in their charges in their opponents final third. Brazil dominated possession, and never really gave Costa Rica any time on the ball, apart from the 2 clear chances that they put off target.

The game gave Brazilian fans hope on how brightly they started, but it started to stagnate as the game progresses, as confidence started to waver, and the World Cup knockout stages looking more impossible to reach. The second half started in almost the same fashion, but this time, Brazil were out for blood, forcing Keylor Navas to really great saves.

One of the key moments for Brazil was when Neymar fell after Giancarlo Gonzalez brushed against him in the box. The initial decision by referee Bjorn Kuipers was a penalty, but after consultation with the VAR, it was then overturned. Good call, too. There can be some good to VAR during the World Cup, and one of them is preventing players like Neymar to get away with a cheap foul of that nature.

Brazil left it very late to get their two goals, with Coutinho poking the ball through Navas’ legs in the 92nd minute, and a simple tap in on the 97th by Neymar saw Brazil total their points tally up to 4 points, breaking their group wide open again. As the final whistle was blown, Neymar crumbled to his knees and wept, as his other teammates rejoiced, before they ran over to console him.

That, unfortunately, does not mask the fact that most of Brazil’s gameplay broke down because of Neymar, in many occasions. Watch the highlights of the game, look at every attacking chance Brazil had with Neymar in possession, and watch the players who have freed themselves to become an option for a pass, before Neymar decided to run against traffic and ultimately, lose possession.

Neymar needs to come out of his own box and stop expecting himself to carry the squad. Hissy fits, attempts to win cheap fouls, and over-possession of the ball has marred Neymar’s performance in this game, and in the game before. If this is the sort of quality that Brazil have chose for their captain, rest assured, Brazil are not going to go far.

There are many in the squad who deserve more praise that Neymar thinks he can garner in the last two games, particularly the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Marcelo, who have worked hard in their departments.

I have a hunch that many would disagree with me when I say that Tite selected this Brazil squad not to play around Neymar, but rather, to play as a unit with Neymar. The only person who has given himself a harder task is Neymar himself, and that is putting Brazil in the spotlight, for the wrong reasons. The constant “I will take this on myself” attitude is only boosting his own ego, but destroying the chances of the whole team getting a clear chance at goal, and that has to go.

With Tite’s Brazil, everyone is a talisman, and Neymar has to realise that.