NEYMAR WAS NOT AT HIS VINTAGE BEST AGAINST CROATIA BUT KEPT A COOL HEAD AT THE VITAL MOMENT TO GIVE HIS TEAM THE ADVANTAGE
NEYMAR EQUALLED PELE'S RECORD OF 77 BRAZIL GOALS AFTER SCORING AGAINST CROATIA IN THE WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINALS ON FRIDAY
THE FORWARD FIRED HOME FROM CLOSE RANGE IN EXTRA-TIME TO PUT BRAZIL AHEAD AND MATCH PELE'S TALLY, ACHIEVED BETWEEN 1957 AND 1971
NEYMAR'S STRIKE PUT BRAZIL 1-0 AHEAD IN STOPPAGE TIME BUT THE JOY THOUGH DIDN'T LAST LONG
BRAZIL'S DREAM OF WINNING THEIR 6TH TITLE CAME TO END AS THEY LOST IN THE QUARTER-FINALS YET AGAIN. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME BRAZIL HAVE LOST IN THE LAST 8 STAGE IN THE LAST 5 TOURNAMENTS
THE 82-YEAR-OLD TRIUMPHED IN 1958, 1962 AND 1970 WITH THE SELECAO AND SAID EARLIER THIS WEEK HE WAS WATCHING HIS COUNTRY PLAY IN QATAR FROM HOSPITAL AS HE WAS HOSPITALISED AMID ONGOING TREATMENT
BRAZIL PLAYERS UNFURLED A BANNER IN TRIBUTE TO PELE AFTER THAT EMPHATIC 4-1 VICTORY ON 5 DECEMBER,22