Brazil confirmed their spot in the first knockout phase with a convincing win over Cameroon and also topped Group A in the process, avoiding a clash with the inform Netherlands.
Cameroon’s World Cup turmoil finally came to and end after they were comfortably beaten by the host side in the Estádio Nacional de Brasilia.Â
Chelsea’s Brazilian trio were all present, with Oscar starting and Ramires and Willian making second half cameo appearances as substitutes. Recently departed David Luiz lined up in the Brazilian defence. Samuel Eto’o was on the Cameroonian bench.
Brazil were brilliantly out of the blocks, performing better in the opening minutes than we had previously seen from them in their first two games in the competition. Despite withstanding a few dangerous Cameroonian attacks, including a vital block in front of his own goal by Marcelo, Brazil were very much on top.
Their dominance was confirmed after 17 minutes as Neymar got on the end of a low Luiz Gustavo cross and finished very cleverly into the bottom corner. The hosts were in a party mood as they headed for the round of 16. However, their celebrations were halted 9 minutes later as Joel Matip made the most of Luiz’s lazy defending to get a shock equaliser for the African side. 1 a piece after 26 minutes.
The atmosphere in the ground was barely recognizable as Cameroon appeared not to have read the script and had turned up for the first time in the tournament, despite having no chance of progressing. They were attacking the game in a way which shocked the Brazilian side.
However, normal order was restored as Neymar, yet again the centre-piece, ran through the defence with ease before firing home from 25 yards, wrong-footing the goalkeeper in the process. The Barcelona man explited the space given to him by the Cameroonian’s to get his fourth goal of the World Cup.
It was arguably to best half of football the Brazilian’s had put out after 45 minutes, and it would only get better from there as they went on to top the group in style in the forthcoming half.
Just four minutes after the restart, heavily criticized centre-forward Fred doubled the hosts’ lead with a simple header after a cross from former-blue David Luiz. Incredibly, the striker position has been an issue for a Brazilian side brimming with talent, but Fred looked to justify Scolari’s selections with that goal.
As things got a bit nervy thanks to events in the group’s other game between Mexico and Croatia, Brazil needed to step up the hunt for a fourth goal. With the Mexican’s 0-3 up against the Croats, were they to increase their lead to four goals, they would top the group leaving Brazil with a draw against The Netherlands; not ideal looking at current form.
And, so, Brazil did what they needed to do. Substitute Fernandinho, on for Paulinho in the 46th minute, settled his sides finish at the to of the group. The Manchester City man is looking to stake a claim to start in Scolari’s side and may have done so with an effortless finish following neat passing from Fred and Chelsea man Oscar.
The full time whistle went and fans of the host nation could celebrate as their side set up a tie with the impressive Chile in the next round, while Mexico, who progressed with Brazil from group A, will face The Netherlands.
There wasn’t too much to report on the Chelsea front as Oscar took a backseat and let Neymar take the glory for the day, and substitutes Ramires and Willian didn’t have enough time to affect the game.
