Neymar: Not everyone knows what I went through

Tied 0-0 with Costa Rica in the 90th minute, Brazil scored two goals in added time to win 2-0 on the boots of Philippe Coutinho and Neymar.

Many thought they would steamroll Switzerland in their Group E opener, but the European side held out for a 1-1 draw.

But referee Bjorn Kuipers went over to look at the sideline TV monitor, then reversed the decision.

The remarks seemed to have got to the PSG man, as for the game versus Costa Rica on Friday at St. Petersburg Arena, the Brazil number 10 will sport a new, cropped design.

“In my life things have never been easy, [it] would not be right now!”

Musa, recalled to the starting team by coach Gernot Rohr, made it 2-0 in the 75th minute when he found space on the left, beat Iceland defender Kari Arnason and rounded goalkeeper Hannes Por Halldorsson before slamming the ball into the net.

It was an emotional afternoon for Neymar against Costa Rica.

Neymar fired over from Paulinho’s cutback and Coutinho shot straight at Keylor Navas after, again, Paulinho had teed it up. If they want to stay within contention of progressing through the group stage, they’ll have to at least take a point away from the pre-tournament favorites Brazil, who will be desperate for three points to keep their goal of finishing first alive.

After a slighly ponderous first half, Brazil cranked up the pressure in the second as Gabriel Jesus´s header crashed against the crossbar and Coutinho was denied by the ever-present Gamboa on the line.

Costa Rica, meanwhile, are out but the Central Americans were far from disgraced here.

However, Coutinho insists Neymar remains the key figure in Brazil’s pursuit of World Cup glory. Coach Tite, who was watching the game from the sidelines, couldn’t control himself as he ran passionately to celebrate with the players, falling dramatically, midway after a slight push from Ederson who was trying to hug him from behind.

Still haunted by demons after losing 7-1 in the semi-finals at their own World Cup four years ago – a game Neymar missed – this threatened to turn into another World Cup nightmare for the five-time winners.

The referee initially granted a penalty to Brazil.