Neymar leaves Brazil dancing to Samba beat

WORLD CUP GROUP A:

The striker’s brilliant individual performance saved the hosts from what could have been an embarrassing opening setback, but that also came courtesy of a series of home decisions — not least the key penalty.

In the end, it was only really Neymar — and perhaps Oscar — that justified the striking confidence Brazil displayed before kick-off. Scolari has three points, but also some cause for concern, not least in defence.

For the moment, however, a pragmatist like the manager will be content. His side ultimately dug in to get the win that at least gives them the right start, regardless of what happened in the game. In an opening match, that is ultimately far more important than the impressiveness of the performance. To sum that up, it was a Brazilian that duly got the 2014 World Cup’s opening goal, but not in the manner anyone expected. In fact, there was not much intelligent design to it at all. On 11 minutes, the lively Ivica Olic tore down the wing before swiping the ball into the box. Nikica Jelavic could only get the slightest of touches but that only proved fortuitous for Croatia as Marcelo clumsily diverted it into his own net.

The Sao Paulo stadium went silent, until Scolari began barking orders.

His team needed them. Because, if there was a strong element of fortune about the actual finish to the strike, it arrived courtesy of an increasingly apparent weakness.

Dani Alves is not the roaring right-back-cum-winger he used to be, and struggled with virtually every run down his side. From there, the entire Brazilian defence always looked fragile and ready to fall apart.

It was often said in the build-up that their back line was stronger than a somewhat disconnected attack. If that is so, it does not bode well. At that point, Croatia were standing up to Brazil in a strikingly assured manner, completely unwilling to be part of any procession.

Until, finally, Brazil came to life. Or, rather, Neymar did.

Oscar was a more than willing supporting act, and there was a sense of justice when he got his own great goal late on to finally close out the victory. He effectively kick-started things. It was the Chelsea playmaker’s cross which first caused Croatia proper problems in the 17th minute, and a flying Neymar that just missed it with an admirable surge.

Eight minutes later, Oscar unleashed a thunder-crack of a drive which Stipe Pletikosa did superbly did match and beat away. As the ball whipped through the air, it was as if there was a new energy around the stadium, as if Brazil had suddenly realised the enormity of the situation.

Neymar certainly had. There was an anger and drive to his performance, a demand to take responsibility. The dangerous side of that was perhaps on show in the 26th minute as he appallingly elbowed Jelavic in the throat. If there was an element of good luck about just receiving a yellow card for that, however, there was no sense of fortune about what happened next. This was all Neymar.

He picked the ball up 30 yards from the Croatian goal, before slotting a low long-range effort in off the post.

Neymar had raised the bar, and raised the roof. The reaction to the goal in the stadium was a genuinely electrifying moment, and possibly one that lifts his career to another level.

It was conspicuous that, this time, there was no God-like celebration; no need for pretension. This was the real deal.

The same could not be said about the decisive moment. It was simulation of the worst kind. As the ball came to Fred in the box on the 71st minute, he used Dejan Lovren’s presence to produce the worst of dives, just crumpling to the ground with barely a touch.

It was not a penalty, and the worst kind of home decision.

Neymar, at least, again responded in the best way possible. He stepped up, stood tall, withstood all the pressure and again put the ball just inside Pletikosa’s net.

Given that this is a Brazil with few stars, as so many stuttering attacks displayed, he carries more responsibility than most.

If Brazil are expected to bury the ghosts of 1950 and finally win the World Cup at home, he is the player charged with actually replicating previous greats and driving them to the Maracana and glory.

Here, he more than lived up the challenge. It was a significant and symbolic performance. As Neymar trotted off the pitch on being taken off, he shook the referee’s hand. Brazil ultimately needed both to get out of jail, even if Oscar’s late finish added some gloss.

The question after so much pressure, however, is whether this will finally provide a true release for the entire team.

Subs for Croatia: Brozovic for Kovacic 61, Rebic for Jelavic 78

Subs for Brazil: Hernanes for Paulinho 63, Bernard for Hulk 68, Ramires for Neymar 88

Referee: Yuichi Nishimura