SAINT PETERSBURG, June 22 (Xinhua) -- We don't need help and we want the match to be fair, said Tite, coach of Brazil here on Friday after the team beat Costa Rica 2-0.
He gave the remarks after being asked about the overturned penalty.
In the 79th minute, when Neymar fell after what seemed to be a foul from Giancario Gonzalez. A penalty was expected. However, a check by VAR later overturned the penalty.
"I watched the play. It could work and it could not work," he said at the press conference after the match. "We respect the decision. We don't need a referee to win. You can interpret it as you like, but we don't need help. Brazil don't need help."
The match against Costa Rica was full of tension at Saint Petersburg Stadium, in which two goals at the stoppage time brought Brazil their first victory at this World Cup. The victory also lifted the five-time champion to top of Group E.
"The first half was difficult. But in the second half, we couldn't have done any more," said the coach. "If we have suffered in these first two games, it is simply because this is a World Cup. The margin for error at these tournaments is very slim. If you look at the games yesterday, and the favourites so far, they are either losing or they are finding it tough and maybe winning 1-0. Today, we played to win and got the right outcome."
Philippe Coutinho seized his chance after an unmarked substitute Roberto Firmino sent the ball into the box. Gabriel Jesus tried to control it but the Barcelona midfielder Coutinho powered it home.
Eight minutes later Neymar, receiving from Douglas Costa at the left, prodded the ball into the net from close range to put a seal on the match. Following the whistle that ended the match, he sank to his knees in tears.
"It was a tough game as we expected," said Coutinho, who was man of the match. "But we were aiming for a victory from the first minute. We had patience to play and were rewarded with two goals."
Talking about their opponent, he said, "Costa Rica is a team with very high quality. They are good in their defense and the midfield. They were controlling the game."
"The most important thing is not giving up until the last minute, which is something the professor (Tite) always highlights: to be mentally strong from beginning till the end. Even if you score in the first or last minute, you still have 90 minutes to fight."
While talking about Neymar, he said "his joy is contagious". "His injury made it difficult for him but everybody is happy to see him back."
The Paris Saint-Germain forward is recovering from surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot.
When asked about Neymar's catharsis, Tite said "with his responsibility, joy, pressure, courage to show it, I respect individual characteristic."
The 57-year-old former footballer said that Neymar needed time to recover. "He played the full match," he said. "You cannot put all responsibility on the shoulder of one player."
In a team, he noted, responsibility is diluted and all members should find out the pace for the team together. "The leadership is Coutinho and Neymar, positioning is Renato Augusto and creativity has to be Marcelo," Tite said.
"The team is consolidating and growing. Sometimes they build their own spirit. My job is to foster growth of the team," he said.
With four points from two games in hand, Brazil, now top of Group E, is quite hopeful to the knockout stage. They will play their last group match on next Wednesday, against Serbia.
"Now we will go for the same against Serbia, looking for a good performance and always for the win," Tite said.
