Brazil struggle to show up at their own World Cup party #TheEliteParty #Entertain9jar via @myentertain9jar

BRAZIL have laid on a great World Cup party so far but for the first time the seeds of doubt were sown that the hosts might not make it to the end.

 

Neymar (right) could not force a goal against a resolute Mexico defence[AP]

Aided and abetted by the referee in their opening game against Croatia, Brazil were able to find no way past a determined Mexico side in which goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was an inspiration.
Now – depending on today’s result between Croatia and Cameroon – they could face the prospect of having to get a result against the African side in the final game to be guaranteed to reach even the knock-out stages.
With the noise and the emotions since the tournament started, one eye appears to have been taken off the assessment of whether Brazil, for all their talent, can orchestrate themselves.
Thank goodness there is no equivalent in South America of the Eurovision song contest because before the kick-off Brazil would have been condemned to nothing more than “nil points”.
When cameras captured Neymar crying during the anthems you could not help but presume he had become overcome by the emotions of the occasion. But when the microphone followed the cameras for the close-up, the rest of the world cried too.
Thankfully, the untidy huffing and puffing of the hosts in a completely off-song performance was reversed completely once the game itself began – but Mexico are never ones to let the party flow.

 

Certainly, when Neymar was on the receiving end of his second foul within the opening 34 seconds, it gave some insight into their game-plan.

Two years ago, Mexico had prevented neutrals-favourite Brazil from taking Olympic gold at Wembley and there was enough of a carry-through personnel-wise to suggest that this could be a little bit personal.

That said, when Brazil did hit the high notes, they exuded the X-Factor.

In the 11th minute, Fred may have been offside and wrong-side with regards to the post but the remorseless move that led up to it – it was as if Brazil were again making the game their own.

For all the distracting haircuts, Neymar remains their virtuoso and save for an incongruous blonde streak, the Brazil No 10 looked almost Pele-like with a header that was pushed away from the near post by Ochoa after 25 minutes.

Fred had a more prosaic and clear-cut chance 10 minutes later with no greater effect but, just before the break, Mexico reminded the hosts that nothing can be taken for granted when Juan Jose Vazquez shot just wide from 25 yards.

A packed Estádio Castelão created an incredible atmosphere in Fortaleza [REUTERS]

Brazil could have given themselves a cushion as comfortable as the one provided by Thiago Silva’s chest when David Luiz failed to snatch the lead just before the break, but instead former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari felt the need to change things at half-time.

Stamford Bridge enforcer Ramires was replaced by Bernard, but if anything it was Mexico who showed the brighter start to the second period.

Neymar provided the first real threat to the Mexico mark on the hour with a free-kick that flew just high and wide, but this was a Brazil team that had lost its rhythm, let alone its melody.

Such are the vagaries, though, of World Cup football that when the greatest ever country on the planet are struggling in their own competition, Jo is apparently the answer.

The former Manchester City and Everton man may have managed only six goals in 48 Premier League appearances, but In fairness, his introduction coincided with Brazil moving up a gear,