The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Brazil strike twice to claim group and set Mexico date
SERBIA 0 BRAZIL 2
Brazil eased into the last 16 with a 2-0 win over a combative but limited Serbia in their Group E decider at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium.
It was far from fluent at times but goals from Paulinho and Thiago Silva were a fair return on what was their best performance at Russia 2018 so far.
And with news of Germany’s shock exit still settling in as the match started, Brazil’s fans can look forward with growing confidence.
Having gone with the same line-up that huffed and puffed against Costa Rica, Brazil coach Tite was forced into a change within 10 minutes, when Marcelo limped off.
The Real Madrid man appeared to hurt himself when he lunged into a challenge on the Ajax-bound Dusan Tadic and it was later revealed on the team’s Twitter feed that he had twinged his back. He looked in considerable discomfort as he made his way to the bench.
He was replaced, eventually, by Atletico Madrid’s Felipe Luis, much to the relief of Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus, who had been filling in at left-back.
On 36 minutes, there was the first piece of joined-up brilliance: A surging run through the middle by Paulinho and the perfect pass to find him by Philippe Coutinho. Paulinho only had to toe-end past the onrushing Vladimir Stojkovic.
The second half took 10 minutes to get going but then burst into life with the game’s best spell.
Aleksandar Mitrovic had two firm headers stopped on the line in five minutes: The first by Miranda covering for his keeper and then by Alisson himself.
But it did not last long as Brazil’s two tall stoppers combined at the other end to double Brazil’s lead in the 68th minute. A corner from the left saw a tumbling Miranda clear a path for Thiago Silva to head home at the near post.
With the pressure now off, Brazil started to play like the team that had waltzed through qualifying.
By this point the team and their large following could think about Monday’s last-16 game against Mexico in Samara.