SAMARA,
Russia — There are no curses, Mexico Coach Juan Carlos Osorio had
insisted, no reasons to be superstitious about the team’s apparent
inability, one World Cup after another, to advance to the quarterfinal
round. There are simply good game plans, he said, and good players.
Hoodoo
or not, Mexico on Monday had its World Cup run ended spectacularly,
maddeningly, by one of the world’s very best players, Neymar, who scored
a goal and assisted on another to lead Brazil to a 2-0 win in a round
of 16 game at Samara Arena.
It was a depressing finish for Mexico, which has now crashed out of seven consecutive World Cups in the round of 16.
In
a multidimensional performance showing all the light and dark of the
game, Neymar, 26, was the hero, the villain, the most graceful player in
the stadium and, for many, the most vexing.
“I
think we controlled the game, mostly,” said Osorio, who repeatedly
criticized Neymar, without calling him out by name, for what he
perceived to be an unacceptable amount of playacting in the second half:
“I think this is a very negative example for the world and the world of
football and all the children following this game.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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)
https://www.nytimes.com
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