Little over 20 minutes earlier on Wednesday the Brazil talisman was hugged himself by Thiago Silva after the veteran defender had headed home Neymar’s corner kick for the final 2-0 scoreline against Serbia and place in the last 16 of the World Cup.
The same Thiago had last week heavily criticised Neymar over his attitude after a lucky 2-0 win over Costa Rica, with both goals coming in stoppage time and Neymar bursting into tears afterwards as a sign of the big pressure.
Neymar had made headlines there with a theatrical fall in an attempt to get a penalty, which was foiled by the VAR technology, getting an unnecessary booking for slamming the ball away after a referee decision, and insulting Thiago for kicking the ball back at the opponents.
He also burst into tears after the game as a sign of the pressure. On Wednesday, apart from one foul against him where he rolled around 10 times on the ground to make a meal of it, he was a dynamic force on the left wing, with Philippe Coutinho central behind striker Gabriel Jesus in Brazil’s best showing so far in Russia. He didn’t score but had some chances, the last one thwarted by Stojkovic. Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic did not want to reveal what he had told the Paris Saint-Germain star during a brief exchange on the sideline — “ask Neymar” — and Brazil coach Tite was also evasive when asked afterwards whether he had talked to the player between the games.
He named a host of other players “protagonists” and ended with “team matters I don’t publicise.” Tite instead stressed the team effort and that the “balance” in the team must be right: “That’s the idea and I also take a look at the individual characteristics.”
However, he may have then dropped a hint on Neymar when he said that “Coutinho played very well and the left was strong.”
Tite, the team, and the whole of Brazil will now hope that Neymar will continue to settle into his role as the tournament starts in earnest with a last 16 date against Mexico on Monday. Brazil’s status as contenders has only been enhanced with the stunning exit of title holders Germany who thrashed them 7-1 in the 2014 semis, with Brazil’s rebuilding process to culminate in Russia.