Brazil’s Samba beat was out of rhythm in their opening draw against Switzerland – cranking up that pressure just a touch more for a side desperate to erase memories of a World Cup horror show in their own house four years ago.
Neymar is still searching for fitness and form ahead of their clash with Group E underdogs Costa Rica in St Petersburg (Friday, 16:00).
As Los Ticos showed during their narrow defeat against Serbia, the spirit that saw them reach the quarter-finals in 2014 is still very much alive.
Below, we select three key match-ups to take a particular interest in on Friday.
PHILIPPE COUTINHO v BRYAN RUIZ
It was a sight that the Kop has seen many times and the Nou Camp is growing accustomed to. Philippe Coutinho, lurking on the left-hand apex of the box and laughing at the laws of physics with a swing of that right boot.
But as glorious as that strike was, don’t let it fool you into thinking that the Barcelona playmaker was entirely blameless for a team performance lacking punch.
Switzerland’s geometrical mastery in defence made things exceedingly difficult for the tournament favourites and what Costa Rica lack in skill, they’ll make up for in dogged defence.
With Neymar hobbled and central midfield otherwise lacking in imagination, the onus weighs heavily on the 26-year-old – who made nearly double the passes (77) of any other member of Brazil’s front six.
Bryan Ruiz will be lucky to receive a sniff of the ball for large swathes of the game though, much like Coutinho, he is the go-to man for Costa Rica in the final third.
An attacking midfielder who is a proclivity to drift in from the right and will look to occupy the space that the ultra-attacking Marcelo vacates when the Central Americans find a way to counter-attack.
Pace, at 32 years of age, is not Ruiz’s motif anymore but he is both a fine dribbler and passer and he will look to the impressive Switzerland duo of Xherdan Shaqiri and Blerim Dzemaili for inspiration on how to probe a Brazilian backline that can quite clearly be got at.
NEYMAR v MARCO URENA
Think of Neymar against Switzerland and an image of him being stricken on the floor, whether through a rough challenge or pure frustration, immediately comes to mind.
The Selecao’s main man was widely panned for his performance but it is easy to forget that was his first start since February and he was the clear lightning rod for Swiss aggression.
Indeed, take his name away from the equation – while factoring in that he was half-fit at best – and you’ll find he was still the man your eyes were drawn to time and again. Dodgy haircut or not.
According to whoscored.com, Neymar made four key passes from just 37 attempts. In contrast, Coutinho mustered just one from 77.
Neymar simply needs more protection and his team-mates can give that to him by being far more productive themselves.
Marco Urena, on the other hand, is not going to melt the minds of defenders with tricks or flicks, but he shows a willingness for the dirty work that Neymar disdains. Just because that lacks glamour doesn’t decrease its effectiveness.
The 28-year-old never stopped running Serbia down in a match the Costa Ricans were a trifle unlucky to lose and he has enough pace for centre-backs to worry about his presence in behind.
His biggest weakness? Well, scoring goals. He has yet to score for MLS expansion side Los Angeles FC and though his international record is hardly horrific – 15 goals from 60 caps – the step up in competition does him no favours.
MIRANDA v GIANCARLO GONZALEZ
Thiago Silva is the bigger name but it’s clear that Miranda is the leader of this Brazilian defence. Sadly the Internazionale defender didn’t lead by example at the crucial juncture against Switzerland.
Miranda lost goal-scorer Steven Zuber from the corner and despite Brazil’s insistence that Miranda was pushed, he was caught in a land where no man should be.
The amount of chances that Costa Rica get will likely be counted on one hand but a single brain freeze is all it would take.
Giancarlo Gonzalez was the standout at the heart of the Ticos’ back five against Serbia but where Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic were physical, the trickiness of Brazil is a completely different prospect.
Indeed, the Canarinha won’t be pelting aerial balls in the box and though he plys his domestic trade in Europe for Serie A side Bologna, there won’t be much to draw upon from the slower-paced Italian game.
Gonzalez has never been the most sure-footed tackler and and received two red cards for Bologna last season. It’s all a little ominous.
