Thiago Silva: “Neymar insulted me” in Brazil win over Costa Rica

Gonzalez did have a little tug on Neymar’s shirt and Dutch referee Kuipers initially pointed to the spot, only to reverse his decision after looking at the video replay, adjudging the Paris Saint-Germain forward to have gone to ground too easily.

Coutinho curled over as Tite’s side picked up the pace again, and a great piece of skill by Neymar enabled him to clip a cross to Jesus, who was adjudged to have fouled a defender as he jumped.

Two stoppage time goals from Phillipe Coutinho and Neymar were enough for Brazil to beat Costa Rica in a Group E match of the World Cup.

The forward was forced out of training on Tuesday with an ankle injury but is fit to play, although Tite explained that he is still some way short of full match fitness, per Tom Marshall of ESPN FC.

“If I was the referee I would not go back but I respect that because it is subject to interpretation”, the Brazil manager said.

What do YOU make of what Ronaldo is doing for Neymar? To me it is a penalty. But we don’t want any help.

Brazil stars Neymar, left, Philippe Coutinho and Marcelo celebrate.

“Considering what I have at my disposal and what they have, I think it is reasonable what we did”. “I am calm about that and I was sad about his behaviour towards me”.

“I have to take my responsibility, so does everyone else on the team”.

Neymar came into this tournament after needing surgery on a broken toe in his right foot, an injury he picked up in late February.

“He’s a human being, he needs some time to resume his high standard. But before there is a team that has to be strong and not dependent on him”.

Brazil take on Serbia on June 27, in what is their final Group E game.

For long periods Costa Rica’s flat-back five kept Neymar on the periphery, with Johan Venegas and Cristian Gamboa both man-marking him out of the game as Brazil found it hard to carve out chances in the first half.

Neymar’s Instagram post reads: “Not everyone knows what I went through to get here”.

“The tears were of joy, success, heart, desire to win”.

Costa Rica – rightly anticipating that Brazil would enjoy the lion’s share of possession – sat deep but looked unsafe when they were given the rare opportunity to counter.