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Neymar was the fiercest performer since returning from injury. He broke the stalemate in the second session with a goal that was long overdue and then set up substitute Firmino to put the problem beyond Mexico.
It was hot and humid in the arena of Samara. Brazilian and Mexican fans have increased the temperature by several degrees. A who-is-hotter contest was in progress. The yellow of the Brazilians and the green of the Mexicans jostled for space and attention. It was a feast for the eyes, a great visual show difficult to put into words. It is common for two Latin American cultures to engage in a non-violent clash on sports fields as an expression of life.
While the fans were having fun, Brazil left the entertainment card in the locker room and decided to opt for the pragmatic one. Conserving the energy, they let Carlos Vela and Hirving Lozano do all along the flanks with fast movements. But Allison's goal was never seriously threatened, since Thiago Silva and Joao Miranda were alive during the raids. The momentum began to lean toward Brazil in the second half of the first session, with fatigue catching up with the Mexicans.
Back from the break, Brazil found his extra equipment and Neymar his magic wand. Starting from the right, he dragged four players with him through the Mexican goal before hitting Willian. The Chelsea winger rushed inside the box and pulled it out. Neymar reached the last post for a simple tap. It was enough to prick the adventurous balloon of Mexico.
READ ALSO: Recreated by Neymar, Mexico coach says
Tactical adjustments followed as Neymar moved to a more central position and Gabriel Jesus took the flanks into a more defensive role, playing almost like a support left to Felipe Luis.
Out of breath, Mexico could do little but play around the box of Brazil with, sometimes, 10 yellow shirts facing the ball.
Titus had hoped that Brazil would play with the same pace and flair as Serbia, but the mild afternoon did not provide the ideal conditions for generating such a frenetic pace.
Mexico started well, dismissing the ball for Vela and Lozano to exploit their speed. They caused some problems at Brazil's second-choice wing against Fagner and Felipe Luis in the early stages, but Allison was barely tested.
After 25 minutes, during which the boys from Titus were trying to retain rather than go to fault, the momentum was announced as the Mexicans began to slow down. Vela disappeared and Hernandez felt his hamstrings.
From his hat, Neymar took out the two, which were missing before, and easily opened the Mexican defense. The age of Raphael Marquez began to show as he tried to keep a tab on Coutinho.
Neymar, who plays in the box-box, installs Coutinho in his favorite position, just outside the Mexican zone on the left. The Barcelona midfielder failed to read the pbad. Neymar changed gears and misled Edson Alvarez with his mark inside, but the kick that followed was stopped by goalkeeper Ochoa.
While Neymar was preparing to cheer on yellow jerseys in the stadium, Alvarez belittled him for a stern warning from the Italian referee. The Brazilian line-up shouted for a replacement. Jesus found it difficult to be in the right place at the right time. Going without goal for 448 minutes of World Cup is blasphemous for a Brazilian striker.
Firmino found it within two minutes of his coming into play when Neymar ousted Ochoa for the Liverpool striker to mark Brazil's entry into the quarter-finals.
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