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Brazil forward Neymar’s tears at the end of the 2-0 World Cup win over Costa Rica should not be seen as emotional weakness, his coach Tite said on Tuesday, adding that he had also cried after games. Neymar wept after Brazil scored twice in stoppage time to beat the Central Americans, a reaction that led the Brazilian media to suggest their team might be emotionally brittle. “We mustn’t think that a moment of emotion is a sign of emotional imbalance,” Tite told reporters on the eve of their match against Serbia where Brazil need a draw to qualify for the last 16. “I understand that there has to be a balance between reason and emotion, and there is a moment when you need ice, calm and lucidity,” he said. Tite then remembered that he also cried after Brazil won 3-0 away to Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier in his first match in charge two years ago. “I want to tell the whole Brazilian nation that....I cried,” he said. “When I called my wife, I cried with happiness, with satisfaction, because my characteristic is to be
emotional. I cried with pride, as we were under so much pressure to play a good game.”
Scenario: Group E
Brazil, Switzerland (both 4 points), and Serbia (3) know they will go through if they win, and each could also still advance
with a draw if goal difference works out for them. Eliminated: Costa Rica.
South Korea insist they have ‘1 per cent’ chance
South Korea’s star player Son Heung Min and coach Shin Tae Yong insist they have just a 1 per cent chance of beating Germany to progress from World Cup Group F on Wednesday. “We have not had enough time to fully prepare strategically for a match with Germany,” Shin said. “I don’t think Germany will be that easy to face. We have a 1 per cent chance, a really slim chance, so we’ll try to find the opportunity to have a wonderful end to this World Cup.”
Scenario:Group F
If Mexico (6 points) avoid defeat against Sweden, then they would be through having two wins already. Sweden and Germany are in a dead heat on 3 points each, so every goal and even card will be vital, while South Korea (0) need to beat Germany, hope Sweden lose and win a tie-breaker.
