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Neymar returned to action after a long injury layoff with a bang as he scored a stunner to set Brazil on their way to a comprehensive 2-0 win over Croatia.
After a sluggish first half that saw the Blazers hold their nerves and fight valiantly, the PSG's stars introduction after the break changed the whole complexion of the match and the Seleccao suddenly burst into life.
Croatia were subsequently forced to stay back in their own half for large spells, but couldn't stop Neymar from getting on the scoresheet. A raft of substitutions deep into the match alleviated the intensity, but Roberto Firmino sealed a win with an injury time strike.
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There's plenty to ponder here. But let's focus on the 5 main talking points of the match:
#1 Neymar’s return is a massive boost for Brazil
Out of action for almost three months with an injury, Neymar finally got back into the thick of the things when he replaced Fernandinho ahead of the second-half. It was a massive boost for Brazil, who were fretting over the fitness of their talisman until a few days ago. But his introduction was a welcome sight and it reflected in the spurt in their momentum.
Suddenly, the Seleccao were buoyant in their proceedings. They were more threatening going forward and Coutinho’s subsequent shift back into the midfield allowed Neymar to take control. Following a few promising first touches and incisive passes, the PSG starlet then tried to test the Croatian backline with a few shots, before going full pelt in the final few minutes.
Skilfully evading his marker, Neymar cut inside from the left and struck with absolute venom, as the ball hit the underside of the bar and crashed into the back of the net. That was the goal Brazil were waiting for; the fans were waiting for. And the 26-year old not only broke the deadlock but also turned in a highly encouraging performance today with the World Cup just under 2 weeks away.
#2 Croatia weren’t disappointing, regardless of the defeat
Head coach Zlatko Dalic played an almost full-strength Croatia side, with the only exception being preferred striker Mario Mandzukic, who was left on the bench.
The Blazers started off positively, maintaining defensive composure and also pushing bodies forward at a given opportunity. Even if they lacked the cutting edge in the final third, Brazil were clearly frazzled with Croatia’s attacking intent. They also almost opened the account early on in the match when Dejan Lovren rifled a header just wide off the post from a corner by Luka Modric.
Croatia spent most of the second half in their own area, and until 70 odds minutes, before changes started ringing in, pushed their mighty rivals to the sword.
The eventual defeat may eclipse all the good work by Dalic’s side, but the performance bodes well ahead of a tough round-robin phase against Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland.
#3 Gabriel Jesus is right - he will have to fight Firmino for a starting berth
Even if the Manchester City forward did start the match ahead of his Liverpool counterpart, it was the latter who made a mark in the game. And moreover, in the limited time given to him.
Jesus appeared devoid of his usual attacking verve and was reduced to a mere shadow in the box. With Philippe Coutinho, Marcelo and Willian moving forward at will, he was relatively subdued. At one moment in the game, he was easily dispossessed by Dejan Lovren while his frustrations were clear when he was penalized for a nasty push on Corluka.
When Jesus finally appeared to score, connecting brilliantly with Willian’s cross, he was correctly adjudged offside. He was replaced by Firmino with only 15 minutes remaining, and that was enough for the Liverpool star to make an impact. He was more confident and stemmed a greater threat. And Firmino capped his impressive cameo with an equally impressive lob.
Prior to the game, Jesus spoke of having to fight for a starting berth with Firmino. And following today’s game, the latter has landed the first strike.
#4 Vrsaljko put in a great shift in the right wingback position
Sime Vrsaljko often finds himself shrouded by the presence of more stellar names in front of him. But his performance today shone through.
The Atletico Madrid fullback was pumped up for the Brazil challenge and did prove to be a hard nut to crack. He made vital interceptions down the flank, especially those coming from Marcelo, who found it difficult going against him today.
Vrsaljko also burst into a few crucial tackles, none more so than the one when he dispossessed his Atletico teammate Felipe Luis with a well-timed sliding challenge when the Brazilian was about to pick out someone inside the box.
The only occasion when he was beaten was when Neymar expertly shimmied past him in a blur to open the scoring. But it does little to smother the contentment that he would’ve felt with his performance today.
#5 Coutinho’s return to Anfield was no great shakes
Among many other storylines weaved in the build-up to the kickoff, one of them was Philippe Coutinho’s return to his old stomping ground, the Anfield. The Brazilian made his first appearance in the Merseyside since swapping Liverpool for Barcelona in January, but the fans might have left with a sense of disappointment.
Starting on the left hand side of the three-pronged attack, Coutinho did drive ahead with intent but seldom threatened the Croatian defense. He, in fact, impressed only in bits and parts; particularly in a pair of quality moments from the play-maker.
He once brilliantly got the better of two defenders after cutting in from the left, but his shot was wayward. In another instance, he did well to pick out Neymar for the opener. Coutinho found a pocket of space just outside the area and laid a perfectly weighted pass for the PSG star.
The former Liverpool star has seen better days at Anfield. But today, his first return to the ground since departure, wasn’t as memorable as he would’ve liked.
What are your thoughts on the game? Let us know in the comments section below!
