Matthew Futterman: Brazil could score six goals in the next eight minutes, or in any eight minutes, but it’s hard to argue that this team looks particularly sharp. Compared with the lightning-fast cutting and zig-zagging the team is usually known for, they are playing crazily slow. They’ve looked like any other team for much of the first half. Just very basic.
30’: Brazil on the Attack
More shots from Brazil. Coutinho gets a good look but hits it over. Costa Rica can’t get it out of their end.
29’: Marcelo Off Target
Marcelo takes the shot himself this time after a turnover, and it goes two feet wide. All Brazil right now.
27’: Offside!
Marcelo with a steal, to Neymar — scary for Costa Rica here — into the box for Gabriel Jesus ... he’s wide open and puts it in the net. But he’s offsides!
Replays confirm the call was correct.
25’: Costa Rica Holding Firm
Costa Rica’s defense has a deserved reputation as a lockbox, and Brazil has not yet been able to pick it open,
24’: Neymar Banged Around
Neymar’s now been fouled three times. Another free kick, but Thiago Silva heads it wide.
20’: Contact With the Keeper
Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas is about to make a throw when Miranda barges into him. He’s annoyed but the ref lets it go.
17’: Costa Rica Clears
Neymar appears fine, if not 100 percent. Another free kick for the Brazilian star, from further out this time, is headed clear.
16’: Neymar Goes Down
A worrying moment for Brazil fans as Neymar goes down, possibly with an ankle injury. He looks pained, but is soon up again.
16’: Costa Rica Threatens
Casemiro’s back quickly, and Ruiz gets a dangerous touch in the box for Costa Rica, though it goes nowhere fast.
Matthew Futterman: Even before Costa Rica mounted this mini-surge of aggressiveness, the Brazilian fans were growing very restless with the Selecao’s patience. Lots of whistles emanating from the stands. Brazil has the double pressure of having to win and win with style. A plodding 1-0 win even over a team that plays with five men in the back line doesn’t fly in Rio in Sao Paulo.
13’: Casemiro Gets Bloodied
A brief delay while Casemiro of Brazil heads to the bench with a bloody nose. But this is soccer, so play resumes quickly.
11’: Neymar’s First Free Kick
Neymar’s free kick to the back post is headed clear by Costa Rica, who hoof it up the field.
Matthew Futterman: Costa Rica is doing what Costa Rica does, but even more so. They have spent most of the first 10 minutes with their entire team behind the ball. Their only means of attack is sending the ball forward when they do get it to a lone Marcos Urena. Poor guy is left to try to beat two defenders and a goalie on his own. That’s probably not going to go so well.
7’: Gamboa Shoots ... Not Close
A pretty good spell of possession for Costa Rica ends with Gamboa bombing a shot from miles away that goes way over.
6’: Costa Rica Plays Long Ball
Costa Rica tips its strategic hand for this game by booting the ball far downfield. Brazil’s Thiago Silva handles it.
4’: Close Call for Brazil
Gabriel Jesus is the first to get the ball in a dangerous position for Brazil. He is dispossessed, but the ball comes out to Coutinho, who sails it over the bar.
Kickoff!
Costa Rica in white, Brazil in blue.
Brazil’s Starting Lineup
Brazil’s big scorer Neymar hurt his ankle in training, but is in the starting lineup, to the relief of its fans. Neymar was on the pitch pregame playing keepy-up and looked none the worse for wear.
Goalkeeper: 1 Alisson (Roma)
Defenders: 22 Fagner (Corinthians)
12 Marcelo (Real Madrid)
2 Thiago Silva (Paris St Germain)
3 Miranda (Inter Milan)
Midfielders: 5 Casemiro (Real Madrid)
15 Paulinho (Barcelona)
11 Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona)
19 Willian (Chelsea)
10 Neymar (Paris St Germain)
9 Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
Costa Rica Starting Lineup
To no one’s surprise, Costa Rica lines up defensively against mighty Brazil, with five defenders in the starting lineup. The key man will no doubt be keeper Keylor Navas, who helped Real Madrid to a third straight Champions League title.
Goalkeeper: 1 Keylor Navas (Real Madrid)
Defenders: 16 Cristian Gamboa (Celtic)
8 Bryan Oviedo (Sunderland)
6 Oscar Duarte (Espanyol)
3 Giancarlo Gonzalez (Bologna)
2 Johnny Acosta (Rionegro Aguilas)
Midfielders: 20 David Guzman (Portland Timbers)
5 Celso Borges (Deportivo La Coruna)
10 Bryan Ruiz (Sporting Lisbon)
Forwards: 11 Johan Venegas (Deportivo Saprissa)
21 Marco Urena (Los Angeles FC)
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