Brazil ease into last 16

Samba Boys to face Mexico as Swiss scramble

Moscow – Goals by Paulinho and Thiago Silva steered a much-improved Brazil to a 2-0 victory over a battling but ultimately outclassed Serbia last night and into a World Cup second-round meeting with Mexico.

The win, combined with Switzerland’s 2-2 draw with Costa Rica, meant Brazil finished top of Group E on seven points, two ahead of the Swiss, who will face Sweden in the last 16. Serbia ended in third place on three points and are eliminated along with Costa Rica.

After 36 minutes, a superblofted pass by the outstanding Philippe Coutinho sent Paulinho clear and he stretched high to toe the ball over goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic and eased the pressure.

Neymar was again wellshackled and unable to impose himself, with one dipping shot over the bar and another at the legs of Stojkovic after a lightning counter-attack his only notable contributions in the first hour.

However, while their superstar front men were making little headway at the other end, having conceded three goals in their previous 12 games, Brazil’s often-overlooked defence again showed their mettle as Serbia threw more men forward.

Roared on by their outnumbered but deafening fans, striker Aleksandar Mitrovic had one instinctive reaction header blocked on the line and another well-saved by Alisson as suddenly another upset seemed possible.

That spell around the hour proved Serbia’s high water mark, however, as Brazil made it 2-0 when Silva rose high to thump home a Neymar corner after 68 minutes.

Switzerland made sure of a place in the last 16 of the World Cup but had to survive some anxious moments in the 2-2 draw with Costa Rica.