No stopping Neymar as Selecao are second round bound with 4-1 win over Cameroon plus other stuff.

A combination of working, travelling, travelling to find work and the season finale of Fargo have meant that I've not seen as much of the weekend's World Cup action as I had hoped to. Due to this, the first game I've managed to get a full 90 minutes out of was last night's Brazil versus Cameroon match.

In what was built as being some sort of redemption for the lacklustre start to their home tournament, the Selecao weathered the African storm at the start of the second half to claim top spot in Group A. It wasn't without its whatever the Brazilian/Portuguese for "squeaky bum time" is though, as the Lions Indomitables and Mexico's performance against Croatia threatened to threaten their aspirations of head qualifiers.

It was a night where the assembled masses in Brasilica were looking for a performance, and thanks to some utter majesty from Neymar, they finally got it. At times he fell foul of some rough housing from the Cameroon defence, but for the most part, he was worthy of the hype bestowed upon him. A deft touch here, a pirouette there, and ultimately, two goals and opportunities for a few more saw him shine the brightest of Scolari's stellar side.

Much like in their opener, the buzz of the crowd had the hosts on the front foot for the opening exchanges, but at the back they struggled as Enoh and Aboubakar proved to be a handful for Thiago Silva and David Luiz. Once the game settled in to a comfortable rhythm for the unusually white shorted Brazilans, it was Neymar who took centre stage.

                                                    NEYMAR JR

Having been roughed up and shoved over just moments earlier, the number 10 was on hand to tuck away a great pass from Sammy Davis Jr-alike Luis Gustavo from the left hand side on 17 minutes. Luis Gustavo had wrestled for possession on the left wing before feeding the ball on a plate for the hungry looking Neymar, who opened up his foot to leave Itandje rooted as the ball rolled in to his bottom left corner. 

                   

                         SAMMY DAVIS JR

                  SAMMY DAVIS JR JR

The Pernambuco Arena was rocking in the aftermath of the competitions 100th goal, but less than ten minutes later, a hush of sorts descended upon it and it's fans, as the Africans levelled. Having just checked the BBC report to see who put the ball in, I have realised that the last sentence I wrote is almost identical to what they have. It's not plagiarism if you don't know, right? Anyway, Nyom teased Dani Alves on the right before squaring for Matip, who was in a space the breadth of the Amazon between Silva and Luiz, to find the net from about six yards.

It was no more than they deserved, as they took the game to Brazil after conceding. A corner had been headed off his own bar by Thiago Silva, under pressure from Matip moment to earlier, as they looked to expose a jittery looking defence.

            DEFENDING FROM THE JUNIORS

It was as close as they would get to a shock result though, as Neymar capped a great first half performance with his second goal of the half. Marcelo dispossessed Nyom on the left and with one touch sent the 22 year old poster boy scampering away. As three Camerron defenders came to crowd him out, he dropped his shoulder at the edge of the box and fired low past the wrong footed Itadje to restore his side's lead.

He could have had a hat trick soon after, smashing a fantastic volley from just inside the box right down Itadje's throat, instead of finding the net with it. By this time it was party time for him, as he showcased his showboating skills for the world to see. He received a rapturous reception at half time as a nation expected more of the same in the second half.

He almost claimed a treble in the opening moments of the second half, when a free kick from out on the left gave him an opportunity to deceive Itadje with the shot instead of the cross. With the power and direction almost perfect, the set piece went marginally over the bar.

When the third goal came, it didn't come from the expected source, but it was scored by someone desperate to restore his nation's faith in him and give Alan Shearer a taste of some humble smokey bacon crisp flavoured pie. Fred had been trying a little too hard, along with Hulk in the first half, as chance after chance arrived but failed to be converted.

Ironically, the chance he did take, was more than marginally offside, but sometimes those are the breaks that a guy needs every now and then. Fernandinho's arrival in the second half paid instant dividends, as he flicked the ball out to David Luiz who had popped up on the left side of the box, centring for Fred, whose free header was only ever going to hit the net. The moustachioed striker's counter kept up his record of a goal every other game for his national side, which despite the criticism levelled at him of late, is still a bloody good effort.   

With the game won, and Neymar substituted at the risk of him being injured as the half wore in, news came through that Mexico had gone ahead against Croatia. Then news of a second Mexico goal filtered through before word got around that they were 3-0 up thanks to Chicarito. With only one more goal needed by the Mexicans to top the group, Scolari's side had to up the tempo once more, and thanks to Fernandinho, they grabbed the goal to secure top spot.

A sloppy free kick on the edge of their own box saw Cameroon give up possession too easily, Oscar dispossessing Stephane M'bia. His one touch pass found Fred, who played it back to the Chelsea man, who nudged the ball in to the path of the on-rushing Fernandinho, who toe poked his side to the top of Group A.

For Cameroon, their leveller was as good as their tournament got as disciplinary issues in their match with Croatia and injury to Samuel Eto'o in their opener, as well as their pay dispute before flying out to South America pretty much had them guubbed since Jump Street or whatever the Cameroonian equivalent of that obscure reference referencing a much elapsed time from Superbad is.

A Croatian consolation confirmed Brazil's  position as last 16 qualifiers, along with Mexico,both going through with seven points. While taking to their third group game to get going, the tournament hosts and in particular Neymar, finally found the performance that they needed. 

Their prize is a last 16 tie with Chile, who lost 2-0 to Holland earlier in the day thanks to late goals from Leroy after and Memphis Depay. The Dutch topped their group with three wins to merit a second round tie with Mexico, while Spain relinquished their World Cup defence with a 3-0 win over Australia.