NEYMAR RECEIVED THE support of his Brazil team-mate Fagner after his tears at the end of their World Cup win over Costa Rica and subsequent criticism at home.
The world’s most expensive player scored the second goal in the 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in Saint Petersburg on Friday that edged Tite’s side closer to qualifying for the last 16.
“Not everybody knows what I went through to get here,” Neymar said in an Instagram post after the match. “My tears were of happiness, overcoming, because of my determination and will to win.
“In my life things have never been easy, so why would they be now?”
But he has come in for criticism for his behaviour during the game at what he perceived to be rough treatment from the opposition, as well for breaking down in tears at full-time.
“Every player is a human being so has feelings and is entitled to feel upset,” said Fagner at the Brazil team’s training base in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
“I believe the whole squad is with him and will support him. He is experienced and will come through this to keep giving his best for the national team.”
Neymar has huge pressure on his shoulders to deliver despite only returning from injury in the run-up to the World Cup.
The 26-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward had surgery on a foot fracture at the start of March and did not play again until Brazil’s 2-0 friendly win over Croatia three weeks ago, when he came off the bench to score.
“I can imagine what Neymar has gone through. I wasn’t sure I would be able to be here,” said Fagner, the Corinthians right-back who was named in the squad after Daniel Alves was forced to miss out due to a knee injury.
He had been an injury concern himself but recovered and played against Costa Rica after Danilo was ruled out.
“People react in different ways,” Fagner said of Neymar.
“His was to have an outpouring of emotion. I was very emotional and happy to be able to play for 90 minutes without any problems, because 54 days ago I was at risk of not making it due to injury.
“We all know what we have had to go through to be here. I think he was playing it all back like a film in his mind, at scoring a goal and taking part in another World Cup.”
Fagner will hope to keep his place when Brazil take on Serbia in Moscow on Wednesday, needing just a point to secure a place in the last 16 from Group E and a win to be sure of finishing top.
However, Douglas Costa will miss the game, having suffered a thigh injury after coming off the bench against Costa Rica.
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Same old Mayo. Kicking deplorable wides, dominating at times but not making it count, zero composure, gifting the opposition a goal – and then a moan about the referee.
@Aidan Farrell: Not even wides a lot of the time, but feeble little under-10 shots that the keeper could catch with his chest.
It all sounds like sour grapes. He made reference to the tackle count of 13-1. Well deserved. Fortunate not to be more in kerrys favour. Also, that mayo are 1 of the best defensive teams in the country, so why present “pictures” to the referee? Horse manure talk. He never mentioned the punch to the back of the head that O Donoghue gave Geaney @ the end and never said it was an advertisement to never watch garlic football again. Needless to say, I’m not from mayo.
@Diarmuid Concannon: I’d tend to agree. Clifford was man handled every time he got the ball, and indeed, on many occasions when he didn’t even have the ball. In fact, I think the referee was very generous to the mayo defence not to flash a yellow sooner than the 67th minute.
@Diarmuid Concannon: a bit of a double entendres there where people are moaning about someone moaning, quiet funny when one thinks about it.
@Diarmuid Concannon: foul on Geaney was nasty
It’s great when a manager speaks his mind and not going with the scripted robotic drab that most managers and players give to the media these days in case social medial warriors come out in force to condemn what they say. Fair dues Kevin, and I think there’s a lot of truth in what he said too.
Ridiculous comments by McStay. The defenders simply could not handle Clifford. The man handling was ridiculous. Clifford missed several scoring attempts, but Mayo’s defence was very poor.
@Aidan Cullinane: mayo were never going to win the league final day always find a way to lose how many finals now
David Clifford is a modern day great. Meanwhile Kevin McStay is an extremely sore loser. Always has been. To say a player “can’t always be out in front” as a team manager in todays game tells you all you need to know about the level he should be at
Poor old mayo not good enough as usual when it matters end of !
Yes Kevin, do have a good luck at how your team tries to tackle, and have a look at Aiden O Shea who wasn’t ticked for any of his attempts, your better off learning how to tackle a player, show your team and stop moaning
When Tipp u21 complained about Referee in all Ireland a couple of years ago McStay said they were whining little apples
Army Cadet.
St Clifford got it easy today deliberately blocked keepers quick kick out, a yellow for most mere motals then hit the keeper with a late match-ending tackle a definite yellow, but not even a card , a very poor days refereeing by Coldrick.
@Paul Kelly: That was a yellow card so therefore a free to Kerry. Unnecessary and daft from the Mayo keeper. Per rule you can shoulder a player without the ball provided you’re both going in the direction of the ball. Clifford was not going in the direction of the ball.
Mayo would want to start kicking the ball, stop playing basketball around the D area and stop being afraid to shoot when in a scoring position. It’s scores that win matches not possession.
Absolutely comical watching these Mayo handballers taking free kicks from the hand from relatively easy scoring positions and kicking wide. No football skills or football brains in that Mayo side whatsoever. My advice to the Mayo setup would be to go and watch a few games of school boys or school girls soccer matches and learn how free kicks are taken properly with a round ball.
@Leonard Barry: No need to watch soccer just watch D & P Clifford or S O’Shea. If they don’t like watching Kerry try Sam Mulroy or Con O’Callaghan
@Leonard Barry: Like a good man will you explain what exactly soccer has to do with gaelic football and while your at it give us the name of the team you are guiding with your football brains and skills,probably a boy’s or girl’s school soccer team