Neymar, Coutinho strike late to put Brazil World Cup bid back on track

Neymar, Coutinho strike late to put Brazil World Cup bid back on track

AFP / GABRIEL BOUYSNeymar hit the latest goal in World Cup history

Brazil needed two injury-time goals to defeat a dogged Costa Rica on Friday as Philippe Coutinho and Neymar scored late to put the five-time World Cup winners back on track for the last 16.

The Brazilians looked to be heading for a second frustrating draw in a row before Barcelona forward Coutinho poked the ball through Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas' legs in the 91st minute.

Such was the relief on the Brazil bench in Saint Petersburg at Coutinho's goal that coach Tite sprinted onto the pitch before stumbling and had to be helped to his feet.

Neymar, who had a penalty award ruled out by referee Bjorn Kuipers after he consulted the Video Assistant Referee, volleyed in the second goal seven minutes into injury time. It was the latest strike in World Cup history.

The world's most expensive player slumped to his knees at the end and later posted a message on Twitter and Instagram hitting back at criticism of his emotional reaction.

"Not everyone knows what I went through to get here. Even parrots can talk, but walking the walk... not everyone does it. I cried out of happiness, overcoming, grit and desire to win," he said.

"Things were never easy in my life, so why would they be now? The dream – no, the OBJECTIVE – is still alive. Congratulations for the performance, guys."

It was only Neymar's fourth competitive match since breaking a bone playing for Paris Saint-Germain in February.

- Argentina group finely poised -

In stark contrast to Brazil's relief, Argentina and the under-performing Lionel Messi were in disarray following their shambolic 3-0 defeat to Croatia on Thursday.

Messi barely had a shot on target and Argentina failed to recover from a terrible mistake by goalkeeper Willy Caballero that gifted the Croats their first goal.

The Argentina team management was forced to deny stories that the players wanted coach Jorge Sampaoli sacked before their final group game against Nigeria, saying they were "absolutely false".

Adding to the acrimony, several Spanish media outlets reported on an audio recording of former Argentina international Diego Simeone in which he lambasts the "anarchy" in the team and says he would choose Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo over Messi, if he had the choice.

AFP / Johannes EISELEDiego Simeone said he would choose Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi if he had the choice

"Messi is very good, but it is clear that he is very good because he is surrounded by extraordinary players (at Barcelona)," said Simeone, who now manages Atletico Madrid.

"The question I ask is 'if you have to choose between Messi and Ronaldo in a normal team, who would you choose?'"

Argentina's uphill battle to qualify for the knockout phase may however have been aided by Nigeria's 2-0 win over Iceland on Friday that leaves Group D intriguingly poised.

A defeat would have put the Super Eagles out of contention, but Ahmed Musa struck twice to become the first Nigerian player to score at two World Cups and give Nigeria just their second win in 14 games at World Cup finals.

That sets up a showdown between Nigeria and Argentina in Saint Petersburg. If Argentina win they still have a chance of qualifying second behind Croatia and reaching the knockout stage

- Another surprise? -

AFP / Philippe DESMAZESAhmed Musa is the first Nigerian to score at two World Cups

Serbia take on Switzerland in the late game looking to build on an opening victory over Costa Rica earned through Aleksandar Kolarov's brilliant free-kick.

A win in Kaliningrad would guarantee Serbia a place in the knockout stage for the first time since becoming an independent nation, regardless of their result against Brazil in the last group game.

"It's very important that we have these three points in the bag but it's not over, Switzerland will be the hardest match," said Kolarov.

Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic vowed to keep faith with the rugged approach that frustrated Brazil as they look to apply the brakes on Serbia's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Nemanja Matic.

"I will speak with the players and tell them we've had a great match against Brazil but that's not enough. We have to give our best and we want to win the match," Petkovic said.

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