After a brilliant opening spell versus Switzerland in the first Group E match for Brazil, it seemed like Tite’s men were living up to their reputation as favourites to win the entire tournament. The slick, fast, passing football that has become synonymous with the five-time world champions was on full display as Brazil had their swagger on full display.
Then, five minutes after half-time, Stefan Zuber found the equaliser.
Of course, the well-organised Swiss were bound to dig in, a point versus Brazil precious indeed in their bid to reach the knockout stages. The Brazil attack so often went down the left-hand side, Marcelo and Neymar the most-often used attacking outlets in the absence of Dani Alves on the right hand side.
It seemed like the Canarinhos were crying out for the pace of Juventus winger Douglas Costa on the right-hand side, yet the Coach opted to leave him on the sidelines as they could only draw versus their determined opponents. Brazil joined Argentina, Germany and Spain as sides that had faltered in their opening match but as their second match kicked off versus Costa Rica, they didn’t fare much better.
Los Ticos dug in to restrict Brazil to a goalless draw by half-time, but this time Tite would introduce Costa after the break. It was no coincidence that the Selecao found a higher tempo after the former Bayern Munich man had replaced Willian, the team immediately peppering the opposition goalkeeper Keylor Navas with shot after shot.
After Costa had successfully stretched the hard-working Costa Rica defence, it was Philippe Coutinho who finally broke the deadlock in the 91st minute, Neymar adding another with the last kick of the game. Yet a look at a man who has been sheer dynamite for Juve this year proves why he deserves at least a cameo role for Brazil in this tournament, if not a place in the starting XI.
In just 45 minutes, Costa received the ball 34 times and completed 27 of 30 passes, one of them registered as an assist on the Neymar goal. He was successful five out of seven attempted take-ons – the most of any player in the Brazil side – and was dispossessed just once, having created three chances for team-mates.
Yet this is nothing new for Juventus supporters who have seen this incredibly popular player change a game on numerous occasions during the 2017/18 domestic campaign. Costa completed the season with no less than 12 assists in 18 starts and 13 substitute appearances for the Serie A champions, all of which came from open play.
“He is one of those players who can make the difference and break a game open,” declared Juve boss Max Allegri after Costa had come off the sidelines at half-time to provide two assists versus Bologna in early May.
“He was meant to come on but not quite that early,” revealed in Allegri following another occasion when the Brazil international came off the bench to weigh in with three assists versus Sampdoria. “However it was part of the plan. Samp play and defend centrally, so we had to spread them out and go round them with crosses from the flanks.”
Even a brief look at his club form should clearly demonstrate how Douglas Costa can help Brazil on the right-hand side in this tournament and it certainly seems like Tite is beginning to sit up and take notice.
