Brazilians like to say that they do everything last minute. This time the Seleção took this telling a little bit too literally.

It was a different team than the one what played Switzerland last Sunday, and not only because this time Fagner #22 was starting instead of Danilo #14. But they were more comfortable and trying more, they just could not pass Costa Rica’s five-player defensive wall, and if they got close to the goal, the goalkeeper Keylor Navas was there to stop everything.

It was Switzerland all over again, just more painful to watch with so many lost opportunities. Mid-first-half Paulinho tried a pass, and there wasn’t a single Brazilian to receive it. If they got to the goal, the bar was there to help Costa Rica.  

First 45 minutes, saw Brazil holding the ball for 65% of the time but only trying 9 shots on target. Not good. Chelsea midfielder William was the first one to be substituted, too many missed passes, balls were given away and way too far shots to be worthy kept for the second half.

Second Half started, Brazil brought changes, things seemed better, there were way more shots on goal. It was time to show that this would not be the first Seleção since 1966 to not move to the round of 16.

Time was running out, the ball would go everywhere but inside the net.

Then Coutinho to Marcelo to Gabriel Jesus and back to Phillipe Coutinho, the 25-year-old Barcelona midfielder and Brazil here at the 91st minute. Finally.

Two minutes later, Firmino sent a shot wide of the goal.

Three minutes later the ball found Neymar. 2-0 that’s it. It’s over.

Neymar’s team? Think again this is Coutinho’s team now

Coutinho had to fight for his spot on the team, not so long ago Brazilians were still uncertain about the Barcelona player. But he has delivered and so far has shown why Tite believed that he could provide. Twice.

Neymar has improved in the past few games. His attitude, not so much. The exaggerated falls, the simulated penalty. Today the referee, Bjorn Kuipers, wasn’t having it and the yellow card at the 81st minute showed that. Some of Neymar’s best chances happened when he kept things simple, easy passes and not all of the stunts he likes to play. Yet this is soccer, and we know we want to see those stunts.

**

Brazil starting lineup

1 Alisson Ramses Becker

22 Fagner

2 Thiago Silva (c)

3 Miranda

12 Marcelo

15 Paulinho   68′

5 Casemiro

11 Philippe Coutinho   81′ 90+1′

19 Willian   45′

9 Gabriel Fernando de Jesus   90+3′

10 Neymar   81′ 90+7′

 

Costa Rica starting line up

Keylor Navas

2 Nhlanhla Zwane   84′

3 Giancarlo Gonzalez

6 Óscar Duarte

16 Cristian Gamboa   75′

5 Celso Borges

20 David Guzman   83′

8 Bryan Oviedo

11 Johan Venegas

10 Bryan Ruiz (c)

21 Marco Urena   54′

 

Brazil will play Serbia next in their last stop before the round of 16, Wednesday, 6/27 at 2pm EST time. This game will decide if Brazil will play Germany or the surprising Mexico next.