The move began with a Cameroon free-kick on the fringe of their own penalty area.
As Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari seeks to rally his Neymar-less troops for Tuesday's semi-final against Germany, there is moment that they surely must be reviewing and relishing - Brazil's final aim in the 4-1 win over Cameroon.
True, it came against a weak opponent at a stage in the game when Cameroon would probably have blown over if left in a room with a powerful breeze.
It was taken quickly, but Oscar snapped in with a tackle. They played in to centre forward Fred, who gave a first time back-to-goal return ball. Oscar played a pleasant lay-off in to the path of a Fernandinho burst, and the Manchester City midfielder scored with a neat cross finish.
The boy prince, so sadly absent from the remainder of the event, had already been substituted.
Nevertheless, it was a fine piece of footy which suddenly takes on additional relevance - because it came at a moment when Neymar was no longer on the field.
Without their star, Brazil came up with this moment against Cameroon which, in lieu of depending on individual inspiration, was based on the collective.
As a team, Brazil pressed high, won the ball, moved it quickly and opened up the space for a shot.
For most of this World Cup, the Chelsea attacker has been banished to the flanks - an assistant to the full-back, as some local journalists have dubbed his role.
And it was a collective context that emphasised the importance of Oscar as the man to link the team together.
The balance of the side looked a small better in an imposing first half against Colombia, with the entry of Maicon at right-back than Daniel Alves.
Where the Barcelona man loves to cut inside, Roma's Maicon keeps the pitch wide along with his bursts down the flank, making it simpler for Oscar to drift closer to his team-mates.
But who will play around him?
This will certainly continue on Tuesday, when Oscar will be expected to dictate the rhythm of the team and keep them knitted together.
As Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari seeks to rally his Neymar-less troops for Tuesday's semi-final against Germany, there is moment that they surely must be reviewing and relishing - Brazil's final aim in the 4-1 win over Cameroon.
True, it came against a weak opponent at a stage in the game when Cameroon would probably have blown over if left in a room with a powerful breeze.
It was taken quickly, but Oscar snapped in with a tackle. They played in to centre forward Fred, who gave a first time back-to-goal return ball. Oscar played a pleasant lay-off in to the path of a Fernandinho burst, and the Manchester City midfielder scored with a neat cross finish.
The boy prince, so sadly absent from the remainder of the event, had already been substituted.
Nevertheless, it was a fine piece of footy which suddenly takes on additional relevance - because it came at a moment when Neymar was no longer on the field.
Without their star, Brazil came up with this moment against Cameroon which, in lieu of depending on individual inspiration, was based on the collective.
As a team, Brazil pressed high, won the ball, moved it quickly and opened up the space for a shot.
For most of this World Cup, the Chelsea attacker has been banished to the flanks - an assistant to the full-back, as some local journalists have dubbed his role.
And it was a collective context that emphasised the importance of Oscar as the man to link the team together.
The balance of the side looked a small better in an imposing first half against Colombia, with the entry of Maicon at right-back than Daniel Alves.
Where the Barcelona man loves to cut inside, Roma's Maicon keeps the pitch wide along with his bursts down the flank, making it simpler for Oscar to drift closer to his team-mates.
But who will play around him?
This will certainly continue on Tuesday, when Oscar will be expected to dictate the rhythm of the team and keep them knitted together.
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