June 12: Brazil 3-1 Croatia
<img title="Group A match against Croatia" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/sep/Brazilch01.jpg" alt="Group A match against Croatia" /> Brazil defender Marcelo (left) watches as the ball touches his foot and leads to an own goal during their Group A match against Croatia in Sao Paulo
The hosts kickstarted the World Cup with a shoddy own-goal from Marcelo (11th min). Fortunately for them, Neymar began with a bang and a brace. His first goal (29th min) was a beauty from 25 yards after which he scored a penalty (71st). Oscar did score late (91st min), but had it not been for Neymar, the hosts would have been shocked first up.
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June 17: Brazil 0-0 Mexico
<img title="Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/sep/Brazilch02.jpg" alt="Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa" /> Brazil&rsquo;s Neymar (yellow) rises for a header only for Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa (blue) to effect a fine save
Brazil struggled to score against their South American rivals. Only Neymar came close to breaking the deadlock, and on one occasion (26th min) had a point-blank header on target but was denied by Mexican &rsquo;keeper Guillermo Ochoa, who dived full stretch to come up with one of best saves of the tournament.
June 23: Brazil 4-1 Cameroon
<img title="Cameroon's Joel Matip" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/sep/Brazilch03.jpg" alt="Cameroon's Joel Matip" /> Cameroon's Joel Matip (green) celebrates after scoring against Brazil in Brasilia
Again it was Neymar, who set up the hosts&rsquo; win by scoring two. His first (17th min) was a deft touch off a low cross and second (35th min) was a right-footer from the top of the box. Fred (49th) and Fernandinho (84th) scored too but long after Neymar&rsquo;s decisive strikes earned Brazil a Last-16 spot.
June 28: Brazil 1(3)-1(2) Chile
<img title="Chile's Gonzalo Jara" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/sep/Brazilch04.jpg" alt="Chile's Gonzalo Jara" /> Chile's Gonzalo Jara (right) scores an own-goal that was credited to Brazil&rsquo;s David Luiz (next to him) during the Round of 16 match in Belo Horizonte
David Luiz was credited with a Chilean own-goal (4th win) following which Alexis Sanches scored the equaliser and the game went into penalties. Neymar decided to take the decisive fifth spot-kick and scored, after which Chile missed and the hosts somehow managed to crawl into the quarter-finals.
July 4: Brazil 2-1 Colombia
<img title="Colombia's James Rodriguez" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/sep/Brazilch05.jpg" alt="Colombia's James Rodriguez" /> Colombia's James Rodriguez shoots to score against Brazil during their quarter-final in Fortaleza. Pics/AFP, Getty Images.
An unmarked captain Thiago Silva tapped in a Neymar cross for 1-0 after which David Luiz scored off an unconventional free-kick. But five minutes from full-time, Colombian Juan Zuniga&rsquo;s knee into Neymar&rsquo;s back broke Brazil&rsquo;s spine. A Neymar-less Brazil went on to lose 1-7 to Germany (semis) &amp; 0-3 the Netherlands (third-place tie).

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FIFA World Cup: Is Brazil just a 'one-man-show'?

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FIFA World Cup: Is Brazil just a 'one-man-show'?

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