All to do for Serbs against Brazil
BRAZIL may not have set the World Cup alight but the pressure will be on opponent Serbia in their final Group E match in Moscow.
Brazil, whose only losses to the Balkan side came against the old Yugoslavia in 1930 and 1934, needs a draw tomorrow (4am) to secure qualification for the last 16.
For Serbia, who will want to be master of its fate, a win would guarantee its progress, although a draw could see it through if the Swiss were defeated by Costa Rica by more than one goal in the other group game. Brazil goes into the game under fire at home after average performances in its first two games.
It was subdued in its 1-1 draw against Switzerland and had to wait until injury time to finally secure the goals and the win against a limited Costa Rica.
Fullback Fagner believes the pressure is a result of its spectacular showing leading up to the tournament, a period in which it lost only one match in 21, scoring 47 goals and conceding only five.
“I believe that because of all we did in the qualifiers and friendlies there is a huge expectation that we win our games,” Fagner said.
Brazil is expected to be unchanged from the side that defeated Costa Rica, although its biggest opponent might be itself.
The five-time World Cup winner has been criticised at home with striker Neymar bearing the brunt of it.
The world’s most expensive player and a constant presence on billboards, television and social media, Neymar has not lived up to the hype and broke down in tears after the win over Costa Rica.