Brazil needed a cool head to get them out of the den. Not an emotional one. Coutinho’s calmness and silence is most of the time ignored yet it continues to deliver the gold for the Selecao.

On a day when Barcelona lost their virginity in La Liga to Levante, Coutinho almost single handed tried to avert the result, striking a hat-trick though late to salvage the Catalans when Lionel Messi was rested. Brazil, Friday afternoon had less than 5 minutes of normal time to save face against World Cup minnows Costa Rica.

It couldn’t have been any worse after the penalty ruled out by VAR after Neymar appeared to have been pulled down in the opposition box. Frustration after frustration. Neymar saw his curled attempt hiss inches away from the goalpost. There had been a couple of chances within the box but none had crossed the line. Coutinho again after securing a point for the Sambas against Switzerland, popped in the box to blast from close range the goal that sent all crazy.

He remains the unsung guy in this team yet the defining moments are being determined by his mercurial boot. Douglas Costa simply completes Brazil attack and his laid back pass to Neymar to all but seal the day for the team, will have Tite change his doubts about his ability.

By Ashraf Habib