Heading into the tournament, Mexico had invested in their mental well-being. They hired a psychologist to bring a level of lucidity to the players’ collective mental state. The players and fans rallied around the phrase “imaginemos cosas chingonas” (a distinctly Mexican sentence that translates roughly to “Let’s imagine amazing things”) uttered by striker Javier Hernández in a fit of passion before the tournament.
A thrilling 1-0 win over Germany, the defending champions, helped the team start the tournament on a euphoric note.
But Brazil, with its overflowing talent, was a challenge too difficult to overcome.
“We’re sad, disappointed, obviously, with a dream that has ended,” Hernández said after the game. “It hurts.”
The Mexicans looked ambitious through the first 20 minutes, dominating the ball, excavating little channels through the Brazilian defense, bringing danger to the Brazilian goal mouth.
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But the game took on a different tone in the 25th minute, right about when Neymar turned two defenders inside-out with a head fake and a deceptive dribble and then drilled a shot toward goal that required a fingertip save from goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Ochoa made a number of crucial saves through the night. But from there to the final whistle, it was Brazil’s match.
Neymar orchestrated Brazil’s opener six minutes into the second half, cutting menacingly from left to right across the 18-yard line, tugging three defenders along with him, before smacking a blind, back heel pass to Willian, reversing the play.
With the defense discombobulated, Neymar abruptly did a U-turn into the box like a Russian cabdriver evading traffic and glided unfettered into the open space just in time to slide a cross from Willian across the goal line with his yellow cleat.
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The incident that enraged Osorio came about 20 minutes later. Neymar, as he had on a few occasions already to that point, was taking his time getting back to his feet. Mexican midfielder Miguel Layún came over to collect the ball and pressed his cleat onto the Brazilian’s ankle. Neymar reacted theatrically, assuming a fetal position and writhing on his back, like a turtle flipped onto its shell. The game was paused for several minutes, and the Mexicans watched in frustration, as he was examined.
Tite, the coach of Brazil, put the blame on Layún: “There’s nothing to say,” he said. “You just have to look at the video.”
Layún delivered an underhanded critique: “I think he’s a player with a lot of talent who hopefully one day dedicates himself to playing a little more.”
Osorio was unsparing: “It’s a man’s sport. I think there shouldn’t be so much acting.”
Neymar was cryptic: “I don’t much care for criticism, not even praise.”
Osorio had every reason to be frustrated. The team’s heroics in the group stage had inspired Mexico’s horde of traveling fans to sing his name from the stands — a remarkable turnaround for a coach pelted with criticism in the weeks heading into the tournament. But the good feelings withered in the heat of Samara.
It was Neymar, again, who conjured Brazil’s second goal, finishing a powerful dribbling run down the left wing with an outside-of-the-foot cross pass to Roberto Firmino, who needed only to tap the ball into the net.
Mexico’s fans, who had turned every game in Russia into a virtual home game for their team, were quiet for perhaps the first time this month.
The final whistle, minutes later, signaled the end of the road. There was no curse to blame, only Neymar — brilliant, exasperating Neymar.
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——
Here’s how Brazil beat Mexico, from Andrew Das in Moscow:
FULL TIME: Brazil 2, Mexico 0
Brazil looks to be the World Cup favorite after a dominating performance against Mexico. Neymar was all over the field, and his defense appears to be more than up to the task.
90’ + 5: Mexico Goes Down Shooting
One last gasp for Mexico, but Allison is up to the task. Jimenez lets one fly, but a defender clips it.
90’ + 2: Guardado Settles a Score
Guardado gets a late yellow, which feels like a score-settling, I’m-just-mad-at-the-world yellow at this point.
90’: Mexico, Again, Could Go Out in round of 16
It’s hard to believe, given the feelings and the optimism after Mexico opened the tournament with its stunning win over Germany, but they’re going out — again — in their first knockout game. That’s seven straight World Cups that they’ve made it out of the group only to fall at the first hurdle. And it’ll be a bitter disappointment: they were primed and talented and prepared, and then they ran into Brazil.
88’ GOAL! Brazil Puts Mexico Away
Neymar bursts down the left and pokes a shot past Ochoa with his right foot. Ochoa gets a toe on it — just enough to keep it off line — but Firmino is the first man to it in the goal mouth and he buries it. Brazil 2, Mexico 0. And that’ll be that in this one.
88’: Osorio Not Happy With Call
Osorio is red with rage on the sideline. No clue why, but that’s not acting: he’s maaad.
87’: Corner for Mexico
Brazil defends a corner but Alisson has to come out for a punch to save it. Bad things happen on plays like that, but fortunately for him, Mexico was offside. Tick, tick, tick ......
86’: Firmino for Coutinho
Here’s the second Brazil sub: Firmino on for his former Liverpool teammate Coutinho.
85’: The Numbers Favor Brazil
While the possession is 50-50 today, Brazil has had more shots, more shots on target, more corners and, most crucially, one more goal. Deserved leaders, but they haven’t put El Tri away yet. That’s dangerous, especially in these final desperate minutes.
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84’: Brazil Slowing It Down
Thiago Silva down for treatment now; Brazil knows how to play this slowdown game better than most teams, too. They’ve got alllllll the skills.
81’: Brazil Solid in the Back
It’s worth noting that Brazil has given up one goal in Russia: in the 50th minute of its opening tie against Switzerland. They’ve been rock solid at the back ever since. Mexico, on the other hand, is nearly its second straight shutout defeat if they can’t find a goal soon.
80’: Here Comes Fernandinho for Brazil
Paulinho off, Fernandinho off. Some would argue they just got a better version of the same player.
79’: Fagner Holds Off Lozano
High-fives for Fagner at the back after he holds off Lozano and somehow manages to win a goal kick. Brazil can sense it. Mexico has 15 minutes or so to get something going.
77’: Yellow for Layun
Tape-delayed yellow card for Layun there after another Neymar takedown in midfield. He protests briefly, but the referee isn’t having it. That was probably payback for the earlier one.
75’: Mexico Looks Tired
Mexico has made three subs and Brazil none. So why is it that Mexico looks gassed?
73’: No Card for Layun
Rocchi choose to pass on a review; maybe Neymar looked a little tooooooooo hurt. Anyway, Layun stays on, and play resumes.
72’: Neymar Still Down
Neymar really made a meal of it, though, pounding the turf in agony (honestly, it didn’t look like he got raked or anything). But now the delay would give the referee the chance to take a look.
71’: Layun Stomps Neymar
Neymar writhing on the ground next to the Brazil bench. But it looks like Layun was a bit naughty there. He stomped on his ankle as he came over to get the ball while Neymar lay on the turf.
70’: Great Chance for Mexico
A SUPER ball from Salcedo creates a chance on the right for Herrera, but his cross just misses the noggin of Dos Santos and Guardado, first to the free ball, has it blocked by two charging Brazilians.
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If you’re Juan Carlos Osorio, you’d like more of that.
68’: Brazil’s Counterattack Just Misses
Carlos Vela turns a promising Mexico attack into a sudden Brazilian counter with an inexcusably loose pass in midfield. Willian promptly finds Neymar, who pivots and — thankfully for Vela — rolls his shot around the left post.
66’: Jimenez Off to a Bad Start
Raul Jimenez, who quietly came on for Chicharito a few minutes ago, allows his first real action to be a ball lost between his legs. Ack.
65’: No Foul
That sure looked like a foul on Lozano as he cut across the top of the area, but Mr. Rocchi doesn’t blow his whistle, and the chance fades away.
64’: Another Save for Ochoa
Willian uses a stepover to lose Salcedo and rips a right-footed shot that Ochoa is lucky to push over.
63’: Neymar Goes Down
Neymar, down again, appears to be asking why the superstar treatment is not in effect today. “Do you know who I am? I’m Neymar!”
61’: Mexico Blocked!
Something out of nothing for Mexico there: a ball up the left springs Lozano, and Vela winds up with it on the right. Alisson reaches up and pushes his bending shot over the bar.
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59’: Paulinho Fires, Ochoa Blocks
Fagner absolutely tees up Paulinho at the spot, but he hits Ochoa right in the mitts. At the other end, Casemiro goes into the book with a yellow. That’s his second, so he’ll miss the quarterfinals if Brazil holds on and wins today.
If they don’t hold on and win, of course, all the Brazilians will miss the quarterfinals.
57’: Brazil Looking for No. 2
Brazil, aware of the lesson Spain learned on Sunday, is hunting a second goal now. Why wait? Neymar fires from distance but it’s just wide.
55’: Vela Making Moves
Nice bit of footwork by Carlos Vela at midfield. He manages to pull three Brazilians out of position, but when he finally wriggles free he’s just so tired he passes it back.
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53’: Corner for Mexico
Mexico in again, through Carlos Vela on the left. He goes down and the ball goes out. Brazil appeals for a goal kick. Mexico wants a penalty. The ref picks — corner!
52’: Different Game Now
The goal stands after a quick VAR inspection for offside, and now here comes Mexico straight off the kickoff. The goal has spiced things up nicely. In elimination games, they tend to do that.
51’ GOAL! BRAZIL!
That was pretty. Neymar walked the ball across the top of the area and then, just when it looked like he’d gone too far, backheeled it to Willian. Willian pushed it through into space just to the left of the goal, and his cutback is met by ... Neymar, who never stopped running.
50’ Great Chance for Mexico
A secondary breakout led by Gallardo gives him options left, right and center. So of course he curls a shot five yards over Alisson’s crossbar.
48’: Another Save for Ochoa
Mexico nearly caught snoozing on the corner, as Coutinho is allowed to walk in and tee up a shot on Ochoa. The keeper isn’t pleased, and slaps his hands and reminds his teammates they’re there to protect him.
47’: Mexico Shuffles
Layun, at least initially, seems to have slotted in at right back, pushing Alvarez into the central midfield role Marquez vacated. But let’s give it a few minutes to be sure.
46’: Layun Comes On for Mexico
One change for Mexico at halftime: A now-blond Miguel Layun replaces Marquez, who gave them a half in this intense heat.
Ochoa Up to the Task
Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa became the first goalkeeper of this World Cup to make 20 saves. He’s had a couple big ones today.
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Halftime: Brazil 0, Mexico 0
Mexico will be far more pleased with that half than Brazil, which was the more dangerous team but still had to fight off a couple nervous moments. Brazil is the favorite today though, by a wide margin, so every minute they’re not winning is a minute wasted for them, and a minute of hope for Mexico.
Andrew Keh: Chicharito, who seemed to be moving gingerly at times in that half, jogged quickly into the locker room at the whistle while the 21 other players on the field walked. He may have some injury to sort out.
43’: Yellow for Filipe Luis
Brazil’s Filipe Luis joins Alvarez in the referee’s notebook with a lunging toe stab at Vela. Stopped the attack, however, so maybe it was worth it.
42’: Brazil Corner Cleared
The same is true for its corners ... Brazil’s third of the day is easily dealt with by Marquez.
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41’: Brazil Attack Fizzles Again
Brazil’s one-touch, give-and-go game is world class so far. It’s crossing, however, is high school gym class, and so another moment that gave us all hope fades away.
40’: Neymar’s Free Kick Goes Wide
Neymar takes the free kick himself, but it’s a couple yards high and a couple yards wide. No problem for Ochoa, who is happy to watch is sail past.
39’: Yellow for Alvarez
Well, nothing ticky-tack about that one: Alvarez tries to cut Neymar in half. He doesn’t succeed, but does manage to bring him down. That’ll be a yellow for the right back, which may make his job — keeping Neymar in check — quite a bit more difficult.
38’: Both Sides Getting Physical
And the ticky-tack ankle-clipping portion of the game has begun. The referee Gianliuca Rocchi gives a warning: yellow cards to come.
35’: Lozano Switches Sides
Mexico’s Hirving Lozano over on the left now, where he’s promptly whacked by Fagner. “Welcome to this side. This is how we roll over here,” he says. “You might be more comfortable back over there.”
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33’: Two Saves for Ochoa as Brazil Attacks
Double save for Guillermo Ochoa and Mexico! Brazil’s ball feints work again, and result in a pair of shots for Gabriel Jesus and Coutinho. Mexico blocks both, though, and breathes a sigh of relief.
31’: Mexico Takes a Breath
After another foiled attack from Brazil, Alvarez, stalling on a throw at midfield, makes the universal “just chill a sec” signal. Maybe he’s right. He could have been talking to both teams.
26’: Coutinho Fires ... High
A Brazil free kick leads to some more scrambling: an awkward header, an Ochoa save, a Gabriel Jesus shot after he collects the rebound, and a kick save by Ayala — the center back — to keep it out. Coutinho lets everyone catch their breath by blasting THAT rebound high over the bar.
25’: Neymar Makes His Move
Oooh Neymar. He just crossed over Alvarez there like a point guard in the open court. (Alvarez, to his eternal credit, didn’t fall over.) But Ochoa is out to make himself just big enough to block the shot. Super move, super save.
23’: Mexico’s Counterattack
About those Mexico counterattacks: they’ll probably want to go faster, more urgently, when they can to try to catch Brazil, which won’t like it anymore than Germany did. But the tired legs and three games in the group may be showing a bit; the pace just isn’t there so far.
21’: Mexico Keeps Running
Another breakout for Mexico — this is where they can be at their most dangerous — but the runs don’t have the same pace as the ones that tormented Germany in the opening game. Still, the secondary buildup produces a chance — Herrera pulls a ball around a sliding Miranda just in side the top of the area, but pulling the trigger takes a beat too long, and his attempt is blocked.
18’: Herrera Blocked
Crazy attacking sequence by Mexico there: Vela bad header, Chicharito overhead kick from the sideline to Guardado in the center, one-touch to Vela, cross to Herrera for a shot. Which is blocked. Feels like we deserved better after all that.
13’: Danger for Brazil
A bit more danger for Brazil there, as a cross proves troubling problematic. Mexico with a corner, but Brazil’s winning all of these aerial battles for now.
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12’: New Look
Just to clarify: Salcedo is the blond Mexican in defense. Chicharito is the blond Mexican in attack.
11’: Mexico Aggressive
Danger for Brazil there, as they lost Chicharito down the left. But they scramble back and Miranda, losing his footing in the area, pokes the ball off his feet just long enough for a teammate to clear.
9’: Threat From Vela
Great run by Carlos Vela up the left ends up in the area; he seemed surprised, almost, that Fagner let him in so easily.
On the corner that follows, a header sails high into the air and Alisson and Chicharito battle for it. The giant Brazilian keeper wins that fight every time.
7’: Marquez Solid in the Middle
Marquez has parked himself in front of the center backs, Ayala and Salcedo, as a deep-lying midfielder/forward-covering center back. He’ll be there all day, providing cover and guidance as Brazil charges in.
5’: Neymar Kicks a Knuckleball
A giveaway by Mexico gives Neymar an open look at the top of the penalty area. THIS IS NOT A GOOD STRATEGY MEXICO! His knuckling shot fools Ochoa a bit, but it’s straight at him, so he just punches it away.
4’: Neymar Tumbles
And Neymar takes his first dramatic tumble to win a free kick. It won’t be his last.
3’: Chicharito Flattens Fagner
Fagner gets run over, and stepped on, by Chicharito as he tries to break across the midfield stripe. Sorry not sorry, Hernandez says. Free kick for Brazil.
2’: Corner for Mexico
That one from Guardado is better: he gets in faster, and sends in a dangerous cross that Alisson has to dive to poke away. The clearance gets Mexico a corner though, which they promptly waste.
1’: Mexico Pushes Early
Mexico gets us going and tries to spring Guardado down the left. But he’s got no option, and ran a bit deep, and then kicks the ball out himself for a goal kick. Mexico will want to be direct again, though. But loner runs like that are easy for Brazil to handle.
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Brazil’s Starting Lineup
There’s confirmation that Brazil makes only one change, sending out Filipe Luis for the injured Marcelo.
1 Alisson (Roma)
2 Thiago Silva (Paris St Germain)
3 Miranda (Inter Milan)
5 Casemiro (Real Madrid)
6 Filipe Luis (Atlético Madrid)
9 Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
10 Neymar (Paris St Germain)
11 Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona)
15 Paulinho (Barcelona)
19 Willian (Chelsea)
22 Fagner (Corinthians)
Mexico’s Starting Lineup
13 Guillermo Ochoa (Standard Liege)
2 Hugo Ayala (Tigres)
3 Carlos Salcedo (Eintracht Frankfurt)
4 Rafael Marquez (Atlas)
11 Carlos Vela (Los Angeles FC)
14 Javier Hernandez (West Ham)
16 Hector Herrera (Porto)
18 Andres Guardado (Real Betis)
21 Edson Alvarez (America)
22 Hirving Lozano (PSV Eindhoven)
23 Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey)
There is nothing a Brazil team enjoys more than winning in the heat. Well that and, at least as far as Neymar is concerned, rolling around in apparent agony after the lightest of touches from an opponent.
Football is not a popularity contest. Winners have no need to curry favour beyond their fanbase. And this Brazilian side have the steely look of champions, the way they played in the Samara sauna suggesting they might be without flaw. Except this one: if they are to win the World Cup, their success will be tarnished by the pitiful interjections of their superb forward.
In truth Neymar’s play-acting at this World Cup has been little short of scandalous. He was by turns brilliant and ridiculous here in Samara, by turns wonderful athlete and childish ego. And, after he attempted a bold bid for a Golden Globe rather then the Golden Boot by rolling around as if under sniper fire following the lightest of pecks on his shin from the Mexico’s substitute Miguel Layun, if the Mexican coach Juan Carlos Osorio is right, it might be a while before he is welcome to holiday in Cancun.
“Unfortunately, and I think it’s a shame for football, we wasted a lot of time because of the behaviour of one single player,” complained Osorio. “It is a man’s sport, there shouldn’t be so much acting.”
The oddity about Neymar’s undignified thespian spoiling is that it seems so unnecessary. Because he is part of a very smart Brazil team. Here they were up against a Mexican team determined to advance to the quarter-finals after seven successive defeats in the World Cup’s last 16. The gap in talent between the two sides was evident in the line ups: while Brazil’s is filled with representatives from Real Madrid and PSG, Mexico’s come from Real Betis and PSV.
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Brazil vs. Mexico: Live Updates, Score and Reaction from World Cup Game
Brazil (National Football) vs Mexico (National Football)
Samara
The World Cup's round of 16 continues on Monday, with the action getting underway at the Samara Arena with Brazil and Mexico. Big guns Germany and Spain are already out, so Brazil have hardened as favourites for the tournament. They were steady rather than spectacular in the group stage and will have to improve their play against Mexico. El Tri have decent attacking threats and will look to pounce should Neymar and Co. fail to deliver.
Brazil is through to the World Cup quarterfinals after seeing off Mexico 2-0 on Monday in the round of 16. Neymar scored the winner and Roberto Firmino put it away near the buzzer, ending a tournament for El Tri that started perfectly and ended horribly.
The talented Brazilians were by far the stronger team in the match, but Mexico had chances to make it more of a game. In the end, Mexico leaves Russia with consecutive scoreless matches. Brazil had 21 shots, 10 on frame, but a fantastic performance from keeper Guillermo Ochoa kept Mexico in it with a chance to get ugly.
Mexico saw plenty of the ball in the box, recording 13 shots, but only one tested Alisson in goal.
With the match going back and forth, the winner came on 51 minutes off a lovely bit of play by Neymar. He got the ball to Willian, and the winger returned the favor in front of goal to open the scoring:
NEYMAR PUTS BRAZIL AHEAD!
The Brazilian taps home a Willian cross to make it 1-0 early in the second half. pic.twitter.com/p7aDi34UhP — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2018
Then with two minutes to go in regulation, Brazil clinched their spot in the quarterfinals. Roberto Firmino finished off a Neymar shot from close, allowing the South Americans to double up their opponent:
FIRMINO MAKES IT 2-0!
Neymar's shot gets deflected into Firmino's path and the Liverpool man taps it home to double Brazil's lead. pic.twitter.com/myy7bXRehU — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2018
And now, Brazil must wait for its next opponent. Belgium and Japan face off later in the day, with the winner facing Brazil on Friday. Brazil finished fourth in the cup in 2014, but crashed out in the quarterfinals in 2006 and 2010.
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