World Cup 2018: Neymar under fire over antics during Brazil win

The over-the-top antics of Brazil star Neymar have attracted ridicule and condemnation at the World Cup | WATCH

Brazil's Neymar screams out in apparent pain against Mexico. Picture: AP

Brazil’s triumph was overshadowed by the controversy caused when, midway through the second half, Mexico’s Miguel Layun stood over Neymar to retrieve the ball, which had gone out of play.

What happened next was either a travesty to blame for Mexico’s defeat or a deliberate foul that could have resulted in a red card.

The Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio accused Neymar of spoiling the game with the manner in which he responded to the contact made by Layun with his foot.

“We did control the game mostly but we wasted a lot of time because of one single player,” Osorio said.

“That is a real shame for football. My players got more and more tired of that situation. There was one four-minute stoppage. It’s a man’s sport, so there should not be so much acting and that had an impact on our pace.”

The footage showed that there was some contact, but it did not seem deliberate or more than a slight touch. Neymar, however, rolled and winced, leading to teasing on social media, with Eric Cantona likening him to his spinning suitcase on wheels.

In a bizarre set of press conferences, Osorio refused to name Neymar even though he clearly was referring to him and Tite, the Brazil coach, said that he would prefer to discuss the issue when the player had left the room.

FFS @neymarjr man. STOP IT. We are fed up of it. #BrazilvsMexico

— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) July 2, 2018

And the Oscar for best dramatic performance in a minor injury goes to @neymarjr https://t.co/qqObA6ixvc

— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) July 3, 2018

This is why @neymarjr isn't one Of the greatests and Will never be..

Shame on you.#WorldCup#WorldCupRussia2018#Brasil#Shame pic.twitter.com/uZlawa0wwO

— Maricruz Navarro (@MaryPhalange) July 3, 2018

Neymar did have his say. “It’s more an attempt to undermine me than anything else,” he said to a question about the criticism he receives for his reactions to fouls.

“I don’t much care for criticism or even praise as this can influence attitude. I don’t know if people are showing off. I’m here to win, I hope I can improve. Today I feel much better and I’m very happy.”

Once he had gone, Tite said that his player had clearly been fouled. “I saw what happened, everybody who is watching with me you can say nothing,” Tite said, adding that Osorio was a “beautiful individual but sometimes you make a comment in the heat of the match and that is normal”.

Osorio was not quite still in the heat of the match, however, and repeated his accusations, stating there was “very little contact” from Layun and that “the referee has a lot to do with it allowing for too many faking fouls”.

The referee checks on Neymar. Picture: AFP

When asked about Neymar he became defensive. “I never mentioned him,” he said. “It’s your interpretation, I did not mention him.”

Tite sought to have the last word on the subject. “They stepped on him,” he said. “I saw it on the screen, all you have to do is watch.”

As Tite pointed out, Neymar is working his way back to full fitness. “He was three and half months without playing a match, this is a lot,” he said. “A top-notch athlete needs four or five matches. He played a standard [against Mexico] he has given before.”

Tite said that Neymar was improving on an emotional level too and that it is his job as his coach to shoulder the burden of any refereeing controversy.

“He likes to dribble, sometimes people don’t understand he’s very agile, it’s not a sin to provoke players,” Tite said.

“Brazilian soccer has this characteristic. Let me talk about refereeing and the other coaches. He plays, he understands, its for me to talk about [other things].”

Neymar goes down amid a challenge from Mexico's Edson Alvarez. Picture: AFP

The Times