Brazil was loudly jeered by fans in Sao Paulo on Friday during a lackluster 1-0 win over South Africa, but on Monday in Recife enjoyed the applause as it downed China, 8-0, withNeymar getting a hat trick.
The resounding win should take some pressure off Coach Mano Menezes, who failed to lead Brazil to a gold medal at the Olympics,where it lost to Mexico in the final. In Sao Paulo, Menezes was booed nearly every time he left the bench to give instructions to players or to make substitutions. The Recife crowd of nearly 30,000fans cheered the national team after the game and even Menezes was celebrated.
“Without the support from the fans everything becomes a lot harder,” right back Daniel Alvessaid. “It was important to have the fans on our side tonight.”
Besides Neymar’s treble, Brazil got goals from Ramires, Lucas, Oscar, Hulkand an own goal.