CASEMIRO THE HERO

Neymar’s absence felt as five-time champions labour to a 1-O win

ONCE again, Brazil arrived at the party late, Casemiro striking with a swivelling shot, a delightful bit of skill, in the 83rd minute. Stadium 974 serenaded the midfielder and Ricardo Kaka, 2002 World Cup winner, pumped his fist in the stands. Amid all the talented youngsters, veteran Casemiro had stood up to rescue Brazil following a laboured performance against Switzerland. In the absence of Neymar, that was telling.

As Brazilian supporters, including thousands of Indians, had descended on Stadium 974 - the container venue-on the outskirts of the Qatari capital, they went through the repertoire of their time-tested songs: Tchau Messi' (Goodbye, Messi), 'O campeao chegou' (the champions are coming) and, perhaps, in the context of their match with Switzerland, the most important 'So Brazil tem Neymar' (Only Brazil have Neymar). It's a song to taunt Lionel Messi and the Albiceleste.

Messi and Argentina responded to their defeat against Saudi Arabia, one of the World Cup's all-time great upsets, with a 2-0 win against Mexico.

Brazil's predicament was somewhat different: how would the five-time world champions respond to playing without Neymar, out with an ankle injury? Against Switzerland, it was Brazil's first match without him at a World Cup since that infamous 7-1 defeat when Germany demonstrated how outdated and outmoded that the Seleçao were without their talisman.