It began awkwardly, gamers trying not sure with the folded banner. Lacking was the coordination of the dance celebrations that adopted every of their 4 targets. However like every part else about Monday night, Brazil displaying the world that Pele was of their ideas did come collectively nicely ultimately.
For a crew that hadn’t scored within the first half to date, Brazil had been 4-0 up by the thirty sixth minute on Monday in opposition to South Korea who pulled one again by way of Paik Seung-ho. The 4-1 win has arrange a Brazil-Croatia quarter-final.
By now, the world has seen Brazil’s third aim of the evening many occasions however the sheer insouciance of it bears repetition: Richarlison juggling the ball on his brow, the involvement of centre-backs Marquinhos and Thiago Silva so near the South Korea penalty space after which the captain’s help for the No.9. This was soccer for enjoyable greatest described by that outdated chestnut of a cliche, jogo bonito. Richarlison has now scored two of the very best targets of the match.
“They’re daring, they fight one on one strikes, feints, its spectacular,” mentioned head coach Tite who discarded the picture of an avuncular 61-year-old by matching steps along with his gamers. “It was exhausting to study to carry out their dance.”
Tite had made the purpose of dance being an vital a part of Brazil’s tradition earlier than the match and on Monday, the crew produced completely different routines, every as scrumptious because the targets from Vinicius Jr, Neymar Jr, Richarlson and Lucas Paqueta.
From 18 makes an attempt, Brazil had 10 pictures heading in the right direction, two of which had been blocked. That meant they scored 4 targets from eight makes an attempt. Evaluate that with 10 makes an attempt heading in the right direction from 24 tries on aim in opposition to Serbia, 5 from 9 in opposition to Switzerland or three from seven within the loss to Cameroon and also you discover an uptick in effectivity. Head coach Tite additionally didn’t overlook to say that Brazil had the identical variety of makes an attempt on both aspect of half-time.
It was a big shift from scoring the least since 1978 on strategy to qualifying from the group and being amongst groups that have gotten the fewest targets on strategy to the spherical of 16. Brazil had a xG (anticipated targets is a measure of targets scored from probabilities created) of 5.42 however scored solely three targets in three video games. They had been getting within the entrance third – Tite had identified that Brazil had the second most makes an attempt after the group stage – however the targets weren’t coming. In some type, Brazil modified that within the second half.
Neymar attributed this to collaboration. “I believe our crew was the star as we speak,” he mentioned. “It’s exhausting to present the Participant of the Match award to one of many gamers as a result of everybody performed nicely. All of them deserve congratulations,” he mentioned on being adjudged the very best. It echoed what Casemiro mentioned after getting the award in opposition to Switzerland. If the hexa is to occur, it is going to by way of a collective effort is some extent Brazil have tried to make right here in Doha.
“We’re a part of a machine, if the opposite cogs don’t work, we is not going to attain our aim,” mentioned Tite. He additionally mentioned it was good to be examined within the group stage as a result of it pressured the crew to enhance.
His ankle, Neymar mentioned, gave him no discomfort. “The evening I injured myself (within the opening recreation in opposition to Serbia) was a troublesome one as a result of hundreds of issues had been operating by way of my head.” Amongst them was “doubt” and “concern.”
“However I had the assist of my teammates and household to seek out energy the place I assumed I had none left,” he mentioned.
Neymar acknowledged there was room for enchancment however all of Brazil can be relieved that he spent 80 minutes. Tite had mentioned he would play Neymar if he was match and true to his phrase, began the participant assistant-coach Caesar Sampaio described as one who “manages to tremendously improve the virtues of our attackers”. Neymar withstood stiff challenges and calmly transformed a penalty. It took him to 76 worldwide targets, one in need of Pele’s mark.
Two clear sheets in 4 video games is proof that the defence is okay. Monday confirmed that the assault, based mostly on how the backline and goalkeeper play out the ball and the place Raphina’s function was vital, might be spectacular. “It’s a balanced crew… they know if they’re unbalanced it may be deadly,” mentioned Tite. This can be a crew that likes the ball and is nice at profitable it again, he mentioned. “They approach they play represents me.”