Brazil, five-time World Cup Champions and the only country to compete in all editions of the world cup, started their campaign on Thursday in some style defeating Serbia 2-0.
With an array of attacking options, Brazil started with Richarlison upfront, supported by Neymar Jr just behind and two wingers Vinicius Jr. and Raphinha.
Neymar Jr with 75 goals for Brazil is expected to break Pele’s record (77 Goals) for most goals for Brazil.
Brazil had plenty of attacking moves but a very organised and sturdy Serbian defence and midfield ensured that there were no shots till the 12th minute.
Serbian players pressed hard and closed down the Brazilian forwards.
In the 13th minute, Vinicius Jr earned a corner. Neymar’s kick from the corner nearly caught Serbian keeper Milinkovic-Savic off-guard.
Brazil’s first shot on target came in the 21st minute through a long-range attempt by Casemiro which was comfortably taken by Savic.
By the half hour mark, play began getting concentrated in the Serbian half.
Serbian keeper prevented Brazil from taking the lead when he reacted quickly to thwart a run by Vinicius Jr from the left.
With a robust, sturdy and heavily manned defence, Serbia blunted Brazil’s attack in the first half, with its no 9 Richarlison receiving no service.
After the break, Raphinha failed to score with only the keeper to beat as he shot straight into Savic’s thigh from close range, while the tall Serbian defence wall blocked off a Neymar freekick.
Vinicius Jr and Raphinha were fluidic, interchanging their positions on the flanks and causing penetrating runs.
In the hour mark, Brazilian defender Sandro hit a powerful long range shot from around 30 yards out which hit the right post with the keeper beaten.
In the 62nd minute, Neymar made a good run into the penalty area of Serbia. Vinicius Jr took a shot at goal which was saved by the keeper but fell to a lurking Richarlison for Brazil’s first goal of the tournament.
Spectacular goal ⚽
Great technique!!!Richarlison 👏 👏 #Brazil #QatarWorldCup2022 https://t.co/fViQYzpde1 pic.twitter.com/MtzXQ8l5RU
— North America Circle 001 (@Circle001NA) November 25, 2022
Serbia earned two corners around the 70th minute mark but could not trouble Brazil for a goal.
With a goal down and needing to catch up, Serbian started playing higher; but it gave more openings to the Brazilian attack.
In the 73rd minute, Vinicius Jr provided a low height ball to Richarlison who controlled the ball and with an acrobatic shot scored a spectacular goal beyond the diving Serbian keeper Savic.
Richarlison had only three touches in the Serbian penalty area and scored two goals from them.
Casemiro, who was having an excellent game, narrowly missed out on a goal when a beautiful dipping shot from outside the penalty box hit the cross bar with the keeper beaten.
Such was the attacking dominance of Brazil that by the 83rd minute, they had 22 shots with 10 on target while Serbia had only three shots with none on target.
Serbian keeper Savic played his part in denying Brazil multiple times while Brazilian keeper Alisson had little to do.
Neymar Jr failed to impress much, given his standards.
Earlier in the first match of Group G between Switzerland and Cameroon, Switzerland overcame a determined Cameroon1-0 to begin their World Cup campaign with a crucial victory.
The match was pretty even but Switzerland played with much more control.
Switzerland, always tight and precise, will be a difficult team to beat at any stage.
While Cameroon was more adventurous and creative, Switzerland played a controlled game.
Cameroon created a good number of half chances but were unable to make any serious threat to the Swiss goal till the 30th minute when Swiss keeper Sommer made an excellent save in full stretch off a shot by M Hongla.
In the 40th minute, Switzerland had a good chance through a corner but was headed wide by Elvedi.
Right after halftime, the evergreen Shaqiri provided a superb ball for Switzerland to score.
Breel Embolo, who was born in Cameroon, scored for Switzerland by driving in a perfect cross from the right flank from Shaqiri.
Embolo did not celebrate the goal against his country of birth.
The goal was not spectacular but the build-up was as good as ever with good transition from midfield to the left, then to the right before a perfect delivery in front of the goal.
🇨🇲 Born in Cameroon
🇨🇭 Represents Switzerland
⚽️ Scores in #SUICMRRespect, Breel Embolo 🤝#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/UCpZhx0TCY
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 24, 2022
In the 56th minute, Sommer had to make a sharp save to deny Cameroon the equalizer from close range from Choupo-Moting.
In the 67th minute Switzerland nearly made a repeat of the first goal when a perfect delivery was made from the right but Vargas’ shot was brilliantly saved by Cameroon keeper Onana.
Switzerland continued playing a solid game and gave nothing away to earn a good victory.
Brazil on top of the table should be able to qualify for the knock-out rounds. It’s difficult to expect Brazil to lose two matches in a row.
Cameroon’s defeat to Switzerland makes it very hard for them and they will need a great result against Brazil to have a chance to proceed further.
