Brasil won with difference of 2

• Philippe Coutinho's second goal in Russia helps Brazil to first win
• ​Playmaker showing his worth to the world in a big year for him
• Brazil face crucial final group stage clash with Serbia on Wednesday

By Giancarlo Giampietro with Brazil

The tattoo on Philippe Coutinho's left arm bears a basic message: "Dream constantly". It is a short expression that perfectly totals up the determination that Brazil expected to attract on their emotional 2-0 triumph over Costa Rica on Friday in Saint Petersburg.

On an individual level, in any case, the three words additionally flawlessly epitomize Coutinho's profession in football. The assaulting midfielder has picked a proper minute to abruptly become the dominant focal point for his nation. "It's something that is in me: never surrender, whatever you're experiencing," he revealed to FIFA when addressed about the tattoo. "The match today was evidence of that."

You could be excused for pondering precisely which hindrances life has laid in the way of a player who first shot to acknowledgment in the English Premier League and is currently featuring for Barcelona. To be sure, life appears to be ruddy for the midfielder, and much more so having assumed a vital part in Brazil's begin to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia with two objectives in two recreations.

In any case, saying this doesn't imply that that Coutinho's street to the best has not taken some surprising turns.

A disconnected voyage 
The assaulting midfielder left Brazil when he was still just youthful, when Inter Milan achieved an arrangement with Vasco de Gama to acquire him to Italy 2008. At the time Coutinho was still only 16 years of age, in this way expecting to hold up two years previously having the capacity to sign as an expert and play at his new club. He never genuinely settled in Milan and, following a season on advance at Espanyol, he marked for Liverpool in 2013. The rest, as it's been said, is history.

In any case, it was a story that was at first just played out in club football. Coutinho relentlessly rose to unmistakable quality with the Reds, however not rapidly enough to gain a place in the national squad for Brazil's home World Cup in 2014. In the mean time Neymar, a previous universal colleague at youth level, was at that point well while in transit to turning into a national icon.

As yet coming back from foot damage, the Paris Saint-Germain striker has had a troublesome begin to the current year's competition in Russia – consequently the genius' tears at the full-time shriek on Friday. Yet, as Neymar works his way back to full wellness, Coutinho has developed as Brazil's key man.

Seleção's sparkling star 
To start with came his heavenly hit in the draw with Switzerland, a trademark twisting exertion from the edge of the punishment zone. The appear differently in relation to the complete for his second objective, a toe-jab from short proximity against Costa Rica, couldn't have been more prominent. "It was the way it must be hit," he laughed. "It worked out. Having opened the scoring we at that point developed, so it's implied that the objective was more critical as well."

Coutinho's extravagant festivals on the field appear differently in relation to his timidity before the mouthpiece. For the second successive diversion, he was picked as the Budweiser Man of the Match. However it doesn't appear to trouble him that he has scored two objectives and, in truth, has acted the hero of a group that is battling before objective. Somewhere down in the entrails of the Saint Petersburg Stadium, he afresh paid tribute to his partners.

Prior in the week, in Sochi, Coutinho was asked whether he should as of now be considered as a standout amongst other players on the planet. "I don't generally like discussing myself," he answered. "It's not something that I'm contemplating. I'd rather leave other individuals to discuss that. I'm centered around getting ready, enhancing and doing my best for A Seleção."

"Cheerful to get this prize once more, however the win was the most critical thing," he said following the Costa Rica coordinate. "We endured straight up until the end, however it was merited."

The triumph implies that an assuaged Brazil squad can even now hope against hope. We can however ponder about Coutinho's own particular dreams, yet one thing is for sure: at Russia 2018, he is as of now up there with the plain best.