Costa Rica were one of the major surprises of the 2014 World Cup and will head to Russia for next year’s tournament with largely the same squad of players having easily qualified from the CONCACAF region. Litte was expected of the ‘Ticos’ in Brazil after they were drawn in a group with Uruguay, Italy and England, but the team coached by Jorge Luis Pinto topped the standings and went on to beat Greece in the round of 16 on penalties. [caption id=“attachment_4510467” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Brazil’s Neymar in conversation with Willian. Reuters[/caption] It could have been an even more memorable tournament for the Central American nation had they not exited to the Netherlands on penalties after their first ever quarter-final appearance ended goalless following extra time. Much of the credit for that historic run was given to Colombian coach Pinto, but the current man in charge, Oscar Ramirez, has continued his good work. One of the highlights of Costa Rica’s qualifying campaign was a 4-0 crushing of the United States in San Jose that cost US coach Jurgen Klinsmann his job. To prove that result was no fluke, Costa Rica beat the Americans 2-0 in New Jersey and finished a relatively comfortable second in the final group, won by Mexico. Both goals in that win at Red Bull Arena came from striker Marco Urena. He led the line well in the absence of Real Betis forward Joel Campbell, who missed the latter stage of qualifying due to injury. The core of the team which beat Italy and Uruguay in Brazil is still in place with Real Madrid’s Keylor Navas in goal, Celtic’s Cristian Gamboa, Sunderland’s Bryan Oviedo and Bologna’s Giancarlo Gonzalez at the back. Christian Bolanos, 33, remains influential in midfield where Deportivo La Coruna’s Celso Borges has held off competition from younger players. Captain Bryan Ruiz, of Sporting Lisbon, continues to be the creative force in attack while Ramirez will hope that the speedy Campbell will be back to full fitness in Russia. Click here for full coverage of FIFA World Cup 2018
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With inputs from Reuters
Highlights Brazil vs Costa Rica, FIFA World Cup 2018, Match 24 in Saint Petersburg Stadium: Coutinho, Neymar win it for Samba Boys
Catch the live scores and updates from Brazil vs Costa Rica as Neymar-led side look to get into the groove against Costa Rica
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Sayanora!
That’s all we have for today. Brazil slogged and slogged against Costa Rica and finally ended up getting all three points. Philippe Coutinho was the outstanding player for his team. Neymar played better than he did against the Swiss but he was frustrated for a long time on the pitch. Ultimately, he scored and tears started rolling down from his eyes when the match got over. You get an idea about how much the goal and the win meant for him.
We will be returning tomorrow with out live coverage. Until the, hope you have a good day!
The second-half statistics!
Courtesy: FIFA
Coutinho, the main man for Brazil?
BRA 2-0 CRC
Neymar is in tears. It will be interesting to hear what Tite has to say about all this. At least, Brazil have gotten their campaign up and running in earnest.
BRA 2-0 CRC
Drama every day at the World Cup and that’s two! Brazil carve through the midfield and it’s a neat attack – Casemiro, Douglas Costa and Neymar at the end of it. The superstar gets his goal and it is hugs all around. Tite hugs Marcelo, Neymar hugs Coutinho.
Brazil celebrate and Costa Rica are out. At least the Ticos have the consolation that they’d win the literary World Cup with Bolanos and Borges in their ranks. Coutinho was Brazil’s outstanding player.
Full-time! BRA 2-0 CRC
Crazy, crazy finish to the match. Brazil tried so hard for 90 minutes to break the deadlock. It came with the help of Coutinho and then Neymar added to the goal tally with a good finish. He was frustrated for a very long time but he found a way to turn this match into a joyous one.
It’s tough on Costa Rica. They defended with grit but Brazil’s attacking quality was just too much for them.
90 + 6’ BRA 2-0 CRC
Arnav: Neymar gets a goal to redeem himself. I can’t say he deserves a goal today though, and I don’t think Brazil deserve a two-goal victory either.
90 + 6! BRA 2-0 CRC
NEYMAR IT IS!
It’s all over! Neymar gets his goal and he must be a very relieved man!
90+4’ BRA 1-0 CRC
What a miss! That shot from FIrmino looked like the ball was filled with helium
90+3’ BRA 1-0 CRC
Arnav: Absolutely heartbreaking for Costa Rica! They’d done so well until this point. Late goals really are a trend in this tournament.
90+3’ BRA 1-0 CRC
Absolute pandemonium in St Petersburg. Did you see Tite taking a tumble?! For all the right reasons. Brazil’ general coordinator Edu Gaspar was besides himself! Incredible scenes. Brazil have broken through. But Tite hasn’t lost his head. Jesus is off and Fernandinho is on to reinforce the midfield.
90+1’ BRA 1-0 CRC
OH BRAZIL! It took so long but finally it comes and it’s from Coutinho. Firmino heads the ball down inside the box, Jesus takes the crucial touch and Coutinho buries it.
Heartbreak for Costa Rica!
90’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Six minutes of added time. Six minutes for Brazil to score!
89’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Navas is an absolute colossus! If Costa Rica hold on, he will be my man of the match. Navas is an absolute colossus! If Costa Rica hold on, he will be my man of the match.
88’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Arnav: Good to see the referee taking charge of this game. With that reversed penalty call, his credibility might have been questioned, but he’s now shown that he will not tolerate any petulance from either side.
87’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Costa Rica’s time wasting is as obnoxious as Neymar’s childish behaviour.
83’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Quick succession of yellow cards for Brazil, both Neymar and Coutinho booked. Brazil have got their emotional tone wrong.
82’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Two yellow cards in quick time. One for Neymar for showing his frustration and one for Coutinho for arguing with the referee.
81’ BRA 0-0 CRC
The dark arts! Neymar forces a penalty. All the tumbling has come good, but the replay shows he, well, tumbled. Pathetic! Kuipers reviews and applies justice. Neymar grins, but he is not helping Brazil. He oversold and it was visible.
80’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Arnav: Well, well well. When I said we needed a moment of magic from Neymar, I didn’t mean a piece of theatrics. In my book, that’s a shocking dive.
77’ BRA 0-0 CRC
PENALTY!
And it’s foul on Neymar by Gonzalez.
This time, the decision went his way. Oh wait wait, the referee takes the help of VAR and he decided against it. No joy for Brazil
75’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Change for Costa Rica
Francisco Calvo replaces Christian Gamboa
73’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Bolanos has shored up Costa Rica in midfield and brought back more defensive stability. Brazil now have Firmino, Jesus, Neymar and Coutinho on the pitch. Can they unlock these competent Costa Rican defenders? Neymar almost pounces on a loose control from Gambao, but misses the target.
72’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Another opportunity for Neymar and nothing out of it. He tries for a curler, running diagonally, but the ball is inches wide from the goal.
70’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Arnav: Finally! Firmino is coming on. That’s more like it. Can he and Coutinho rekindle their Liverpool-era partnership. Brasil have been much improved in the last few minutes, and Firmino’s intelligent movement can help to open up Costa Rica’s defense further.
69’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Neymar surges ahead with nobody in the front but Oviedo with a great piece of defending denies the shot.
67’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Brazil are looking to change things around with Firmino. Out goes Paulinho.
So that means Brazil will play with two strikers up front.
65’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Costa Rica can breathe. After 15 minutes of intense pressure, Brazil have relented somewhat. Neymar had a perfect opportunity to release Douglas Costa, but was yet again imprecise. Costa Rica trying to move their defensive line higher up, but it’s still Brazil with the possession.
63’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Arnav: Both defenses seem to have lost a bit of their concentration and structure. We’re seeing more last-ditch stuff from both sides now, lots of jumps, hacks and somersaults to block the ball.
60’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Dutch referee Kuipers reprimands Neymar. About time someone did that.
58’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Arnav: That Keylor Navas save reminded me of his heroics at the last world cup. The second-half has started much better than the first.
58’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Paulinho has also been sighted in the box, which is an encouraging sign for Brazil. Costa Rica make a first change. Bolanos is a polyvalent midfielder, who can play up front. Venegas, however, is leading the line.
56’ BRA 0-0 CRC
SAVE from Navas. Paulinho delivers a lovely ball to Neymar in the middle, the forward was all set to celebrate only for Navas to spoil the party. This has been that kind of game for Neymar.
55’ BRA 0-0 CRC
First change for Costa Rica.
Bolanos comes in and Urena goes out.
53’ BRA 0-0 CRC
That was coming…well, not just yet, but Brazil pile on the pressure. Some neat interplay, Jesus’ header kissing the woodwork and a succession of corners. They are playing with urgency. Fagner, the right-back, has been asked to move forward a bit more.
50’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Gosh! Two outstanding chances for Brazil. First one from Jesus as his header hits the post, and then Coutinho tries to drill the ball inside the net only for Navas to save it.
48’ BRA 0-0 CRC
First good chance of the second-half belongs to Neymar. He gets the ball inside the box but fails when it comes to control.
46’ BRA 0-0 CRC
The polar opposite of the 2002 encounter. Costa Rica have had the best chance and Brazil lack a cutting edge. Neymar simply spends his time complaining. Tite rolls the dice. Willian, who was very bleak, is replaced by Douglas Costa.
45’ BRA 0-0 CRC
Second-half is underway! Brazil have introduced Douglas Costa and removed Willian.