Neymar Remains Brazil Top Dog After Copa America Opener

Take a guess who made the difference. Go on, it shouldn't take you very long, or too many guesses for that matter. If there is anyone who remotely follows international football and is yet to realise that Neymar is the key protagonist of this Brazil side, the man with the hopes of close to 200 million people slung on to slim shoulders, then it is perhaps time that individual looked for a new hobby.

Brazil beat Peru 2-1 in their Copa America opener on Sunday, and it is now 11 wins from 11. The performance and manner of the victory, however, still indicated Dunga's Selecao Brasileira has a long way to go in terms of rediscovering any form to top-class rhythm.

It is indeed a similar theme, and it was a less than encouraging start to competitive football for Brazil after the World Cup. In a poor game, decided by individual moments, Brazil lacked much of the cohesion and fluidity that had been evident in some of their friendlies, most notably the 3-1 win over France in March.

One goal and one assist from Neymar, teeing up Douglas Costa in the dying seconds, made the difference on a disappointing evening, once again underlining his importance to any potential success this side might have. It may not be all about the Barcelona man, but it isn't half handy to have him in good nick.

Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

Just to look at his bare numbers, Neymar now has 44 goals in 63 internationals, putting him fifth on the all-time scoring list for the Brazilian national side, according to Globo Esporte (link in Portuguese). The next man in his sights is idol Romario, as he hunts down Pele's record with almost wanton abandon.

Brazil have been handed a relatively straightforward task on paper in Group C. Alongside Colombia, they were initially expected to cruise through at the expense of Venezuela and Peru, although that scenario has been dealt a serious blow with the former's 1-0 win over Colombia.

Even so, anything less than three points for Brazil would have been seen as failure. And it certainly was not supposed to take as long as injury time for the eight-time continental champions to finally take the lead.

On Wednesday night Brazil take on Colombia, their World Cup quarter-final opponents. Despite a sluggish start from the pair, it must be expected that James Rodriguez and company will give Brazil a sterner test than Peru.

If Brazil are as slack in midweek as they were last night, they can expect to be punished with far more ruthlessness.

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The terrible error that led to Peru's goal—a poor back pass from David Luiz and an even worse attempted pass from goalkeeper Jefferson—was wiped out clearly by a pinpoint cross from Daniel Alves and a precise header from Neymar. In a way, Brazil were fortunate the mishap occurred so early.

Less than two and a half minutes were on the clock when Christian Cueva gave the underdogs a shock lead, and Brazil had the best part of an entire match to rectify the mistake, something they finally managed to do at the death. However, it is unlikely Colombia will be quite as accommodating in gifting Neymar the acres of space he was allowed to head home the equaliser.

There were quite possibly a few nerves going into this game from some of the Brazilian players. If that was the case—and this remains pure speculation from an observer—then it must be hoped that first-game jitters are out of the way, and it will not become a habit throughout the tournament.

Dunga has worked hard on improving Brazil's defence, a theory that was torn to shreds less than 200 seconds into this encounter.

Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

This side is different to the one that took to the field at the World Cup. More organised defensively, moving the ball at a higher speed and more effective on the counter-attack.

Yet there remains one cog in their machine that is unchanged, indeed is unchangeable: Neymar. The No. 10 covered just about every blade of grass on the pitch as he pushed and spurred his teammates on.

Starting on the left, dropping to collect the ball, darting out to the right, surging into the area to nod in his goal. The 23-year-old was everywhere as he continues to defy expectations and critics.

Booked for continued complaints to referee Roberto Garcia, one must sympathise with Neymar, his skill repeatedly chopped down as he dances across the field of play like a fluorescent ballerina.

Brazil huffed and puffed and finally managed to blow the Peru house down. Yes, they are a tighter unit than previously, but their dependence on the sheer brilliance of one individual remains all too obvious.