Cameroon 1-4 Brazil: Neymar scores twice to help secure last 16 spot for Selecao

  

The 2014 version of the Brazil national football team is so full of holes it remains distinctly possible that somebody could yet give them a rather embarrassing hiding over the next fortnight.

Nevertheless, in the shape of their remarkable forward Neymar they boast a young footballer who seems determined to make this World Cup his own.

Can one player drive a nation to the ultimate glory all by himself?

Maybe not but he can make a heck of a difference and in the capital of his country last night, Neymar ensured his team ended the group stages on a rapturous high.

Certainly the Barcelona forward has tapped in to the emotion and warmth of this tournament.

On Monday night he got pushed in to the photographers by one Cameroon player and slapped in the face by another. He responded with goals, though, beautiful goals, and after each he was waving his arms at the crowd, imploring them to offer more from the towering stands of the magnificent Estadio Nacional.

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Star man: Neymar (pictured) scored twice during Brazil's Group A win against Cameroon

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Strike: The Brazil youngster gave his side the lead with a right-footed finish in the 17th minute

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Quiet: Dani Alves (left), David Luiz join Neymar as he hold his ear to the crowd

Match facts

Cameroon: Itandje 6; Nyom 5.5, Nkoulou 5.5, Matip 6, Bedimo 5; Mbia 6, Nguemo 6, Enoh 6.5; Choupo Moting 6 (Makoun 80, 5.5), Aboubakar 5.5 (Webo 71, 6), Moukandjo 6 (Salli 57, 5).

Subs not used: Feudjou, Assou-Ekotto, Djeugoue, Nounkeu, Eto'o, Chedjou, Webo, Fabrice, N'Djock.
Bookings: Enoh, Mbia

Goals: Matip 26'

Brazil: Julio Cesar 6; Alves 6, Silva 6, Luiz 6, Marcelo 5.5; Paulinho 5 (Fernandinho 45, 7.5), Luiz Gustavo 6.5, Oscar 6; Hulk 6 (Ramires 63, 5.5), Neymar 8 (Willian 71, 6); Fred 6.5

Subs not used: Jefferson, Dante, Maxwell, Henrique, Hernanes, Bernard, Jo, Maicon, Victor.
Goals: Neymar 17, 34', Fred 49', Fernandinho 84'
Att: 69,112
MOM: Neymar

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) 6.5

It was a terrific sight, even if it didn’t completely mask Brazil’s frailties. There are simply too many of those to ignore but – after the lumbering Fred added a third goal in the second half and Manchester City’s Fernandinho came on to score a fantastic fourth  - it ensured that 70,000 people went home optimistic rather than concerned for the durability of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side.

As the dust settled, it was hard to ignore Fernandinho’s impact. It is rather mysterious why Scolari doesn’t start with him. He is exactly the kind of pragmatic, intuitive holding player that this team needs.

The goal he scored was lovely, too. By the end, as Cameroon tired and ragged, Brazil had begun to knock the ball around with confidence and played their best football of the night and perhaps even the tournament so far.

Fernandinho’s goal came on the back of that football as four passes were exchanged to allow him to advance and poke a perfect shot across goalkeeper Charles Itandje and in to the far corner.

As auditions for a place in the last sixteen tie against Chile go, it was pretty convincing stuff from a player who did so much to assist City’s reclaiming of the Barclays Premier League trophy.

It is hard, though, to watch this Brazil team without being drawn to the sight of Neymar’s imperious play. A footballer with perfect balance, dextrous feet and a scrapper’s heart, he is a middleweight who punching ferociously at the highest level.

On Monday night Brazil did what Brazil do, which is to look capable and completely incapable at the same time, depending on which half of the field you were looking at. This is a team that often looks lost when it doesn’t have the ball, a team through which panic spreads when even the most basic set-piece is delivered in to their penalty area.