Neymar scores twice to ease Brazil past Cameroon into final stages
Cameroon 1 Brazil 4
World Cup 2014Cameroon
Brazil
Fernandinho (obscured) is mobbed after scoring Brazil's fourth goal against Cameroon.
It was a night when Neymar delivered yet another reminder of how much the hopes of one nation, and 200 million football-mad people, rest on his callow shoulders. Brazil have secured their place in the last 16, and a fascinating meeting with Chile in Belo Horizonte awaits on Saturday, after a wonderful performance from Neymar that included another two goals to add to his World Cup collection.
For periods in the game, especially during a tense first half, Brazil were far from convincing and the anxiety inside the stadium was tangible. Cameroon started as if affronted by the suggestion that they would have nothing to play for, yet they were unable to contain the irrepressible Neymar.
The question seems to be not so much whether Brazil can win the World Cup but whether Neymar can win it single-handedly for them. It is impossible to overstate his importance to this Brazil team and it was no surprise when Luiz Felipe Scolari withdrew him with 18 minutes remaining. The last thing the Brazil manager needed to risk was his best player picking up the yellow card that would have ruled him out of the Chile game.
Brazil looked much more comfortable in the second half, helped by the introduction of Fernandinho, who had a hand in the third goal and scored the fourth. The Manchester City midfielder, keen to break forward and composed in possession, was much more dynamic than the hugely disappointing Paulinho, whom he replaced at half-time.
For Brazil, there was also the added satisfaction of seeing Fred, who has been the subject of so much criticism following his vapid displays against Croatia and Mexico, get on the scoresheet. The Fluminense striker could hardly miss, and television replays confirmed that he should have been flagged offside, but all that matters is that he is off the mark.
There is still work to do and Chile will take encouragement from the way that Cameroon opened Brazil up in the opening 45 minutes, when the defensive limitations of Dani Alves were once again exposed. Joel Matip’s equaliser came after Alves lost out in a one-on-one duel with Allan Nyom far too easily, and for a moment it looked as if Cameroon might spoil the party.
Neymar, however, had other ideas. Having put Brazil ahead with an exquisite finish after Cameroon profligately gave away possession, Neymar restored their lead six minutes after Matip’s tap-in. The Barcelona forward is the World Cup’s leading scorer with four goals and there is not the slightest indication that he is burdened by the responsibility he carries every time he sets foot on the pitch.
“There is no pressure. I’ve always said that there is no pressure when you are making a dream come true, something that you sought since you were a kid,” said Neymar, speaking after collecting the man-of-the-match award. “Today I am playing in matches I always dreamed about. I want to help my fellow players, not just scoring goals but doing whatever it takes to score.”
His opening goal was a beauty. Luiz Gustavo dispossessed Benjamin Moukandjo, after Cameroon tried to play out from the back, and the midfielder delivered a low inviting centre from the left that picked out Neymar, who opened up his body, allowing the ball to run across him, and expertly found the far corner of the net.
Cameroon, however, were looking dangerous. Only the crossbar spared Thiago Silva from scoring an own-goal and Cameroon levelled from the attack that followed. Nyom got away from Alves on the left and crossed for the unmarked Matip to tap home.
The stadium fell silent and Brazil looked nervous. They needed a source of inspiration and Neymar, once again, rose to the challenge. Nyom’s poor header landed at the feet of Marcelo, whose first-time pass released Neymar 30 yards from goal. Cutting inside, the Brazilian glided across the edge of the penalty area, sidestepped a challenge from Nicolas N’Koulou and drilled a low shot beyond Charles Itandje.
Relief turned to jubilation when Fred headed in David Luiz’s cross, after some fine work from Fernandinho, to put the game beyond Cameroon. It was then left to Fernandinho to complete the scoring when he finished off a lovely move by poking home from 10 yards. “Fernandinho going in was very good, it was critical,” Scolari said.
The Brazil manager is less impressed that Chile are their opponents in the last 16 – the one country that he had said he wanted to avoid in an interview last December. Nothing that he has seen in the World Cup has altered his opinion. “If I could choose I would have picked somebody else,” he said. “I think Chile is more difficult because it’s a South American team. They have quality, they’re organised, they have will.”
It was a night when Neymar delivered yet another reminder of how much the hopes of one nation, and 200 million football-mad people, rest on his callow shoulders. Brazil have secured their place in the last 16, and a fascinating meeting with Chile in Belo Horizonte awaits on Saturday, after a wonderful performance from Neymar that included another two goals to add to his World Cup collection.
For periods in the game, especially during a tense first half, Brazil were far from convincing and the anxiety inside the stadium was tangible. Cameroon started as if affronted by the suggestion that they would have nothing to play for, yet they were unable to contain the irrepressible Neymar.
The question seems to be not so much whether Brazil can win the World Cup but whether Neymar can win it single-handedly for them. It is impossible to overstate his importance to this Brazil team and it was no surprise when Luiz Felipe Scolari withdrew him with 18 minutes remaining. The last thing the Brazil manager needed to risk was his best player picking up the yellow card that would have ruled him out of the Chile game.
Brazil looked much more comfortable in the second half, helped by the introduction of Fernandinho, who had a hand in the third goal and scored the fourth. The Manchester City midfielder, keen to break forward and composed in possession, was much more dynamic than the hugely disappointing Paulinho, whom he replaced at half-time.
For Brazil, there was also the added satisfaction of seeing Fred, who has been the subject of so much criticism following his vapid displays against Croatia and Mexico, get on the scoresheet. The Fluminense striker could hardly miss, and television replays confirmed that he should have been flagged offside, but all that matters is that he is off the mark.
There is still work to do and Chile will take encouragement from the way that Cameroon opened Brazil up in the opening 45 minutes, when the defensive limitations of Dani Alves were once again exposed. Joel Matip’s equaliser came after Alves lost out in a one-on-one duel with Allan Nyom far too easily, and for a moment it looked as if Cameroon might spoil the party.
Neymar, however, had other ideas. Having put Brazil ahead with an exquisite finish after Cameroon profligately gave away possession, Neymar restored their lead six minutes after Matip’s tap-in. The Barcelona forward is the World Cup’s leading scorer with four goals and there is not the slightest indication that he is burdened by the responsibility he carries every time he sets foot on the pitch.
“There is no pressure. I’ve always said that there is no pressure when you are making a dream come true, something that you sought since you were a kid,” said Neymar, speaking after collecting the man-of-the-match award. “Today I am playing in matches I always dreamed about. I want to help my fellow players, not just scoring goals but doing whatever it takes to score.”
His opening goal was a beauty. Luiz Gustavo dispossessed Benjamin Moukandjo, after Cameroon tried to play out from the back, and the midfielder delivered a low inviting centre from the left that picked out Neymar, who opened up his body, allowing the ball to run across him, and expertly found the far corner of the net.
Cameroon, however, were looking dangerous. Only the crossbar spared Thiago Silva from scoring an own-goal and Cameroon levelled from the attack that followed. Nyom got away from Alves on the left and crossed for the unmarked Matip to tap home.
The stadium fell silent and Brazil looked nervous. They needed a source of inspiration and Neymar, once again, rose to the challenge. Nyom’s poor header landed at the feet of Marcelo, whose first-time pass released Neymar 30 yards from goal. Cutting inside, the Brazilian glided across the edge of the penalty area, sidestepped a challenge from Nicolas N’Koulou and drilled a low shot beyond Charles Itandje.
Relief turned to jubilation when Fred headed in David Luiz’s cross, after some fine work from Fernandinho, to put the game beyond Cameroon. It was then left to Fernandinho to complete the scoring when he finished off a lovely move by poking home from 10 yards. “Fernandinho going in was very good, it was critical,” Scolari said.
The Brazil manager is less impressed that Chile are their opponents in the last 16 – the one country that he had said he wanted to avoid in an interview last December. Nothing that he has seen in the World Cup has altered his opinion. “If I could choose I would have picked somebody else,” he said. “I think Chile is more difficult because it’s a South American team. They have quality, they’re organised, they have will.”
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