Neymar’s pursuit of Pele’s report:
Neymar could not have hoped for a better return to motion after lacking Brazil’s group video games towards Switzerland and Cameroon with an ankle harm sustained of their match opener towards Serbia. South Korea’s jaded gamers could not get close to the lads in yellow throughout a painfully one-sided first half, even gifting the Selecao a penalty which Neymar transformed with aplomb, sitting down Kim Seung-gyu as he rolled the ball into the web for his 76th worldwide aim. In doing so, he grew to become simply the third Brazilian to attain in three World Cups, alongside Ronaldo and Pele. He is now only one aim away from matching the latter’s all-time tally for Brazil (77). Given Neymar’s return has reignited Tite’s assault, it will not be in any respect shocking if the Paris Saint-Germain celebrity equals Pele’s report towards Croatia.
Richarlison’s aim of the match hopes:
Richarlison is clearly a person on a mission. We’re solely on the last-16 stage of Qatar 2022 however the Spurs striker already has two robust contenders for aim of the match. His second strike towards Serbia was gorgeous, with Richarlison utilizing a poor first contact to point out off his volleying abilities. Right here, he pulled out his finest ‘seal dribble’ at first of an assault that ended with him slotting residence his twentieth aim for Brazil. Catching Kylian Mbappe within the race for the Golden Boot shall be troublesome however Richarlison is the clear frontrunner for the aim of the match award.
Pele:
Pele is an idol not simply in Brazil however all through the world. Each soccer followers’ ideas are with him and his household proper now. However simply how a lot he means to this explicit crop of Brazil gamers was hammered residence right here, with your entire squad taking to the sphere with a Pele banner simply seconds after the full-time whistle had blown. “This victory is for him,” Vinicius mentioned afterwards. “I need to ship an enormous hug to Pele. I hope that every part goes effectively and that he can get out of this example.” Lengthy reside The King.
The Samba Boys:
Within the elevator as much as the media tribune on the fourth flooring of Stadium 974, the music emanating from exterior grew louder and louder. One bemused English journalist requested “Are we going to a celebration?” Fast as a flash, a Brazilian colleague replied, “Brazil IS a celebration.” On this proof, it is troublesome to disagree. The followers have been singing and dancing lengthy earlier than the sport started. The gamers joined in simply seven minutes after kick-off. So, when even Tite began strutting his stuff, this actually did really feel extra just like the Copacabana than Qatar. A veritable carnival of soccer if ever there was one.