Brazil sheds worries, wins group
Worried no more, Brazil is through at the World Cup.
Paulinho and Thiago Silva scored a goal each yesterday in Moscow to give the five-time champions a 2-0 victory over Serbia and first place in their group.
ROUNDUP
Brazil struggled in its opening two matches, first held to a 1-1 draw and then needing late goals to win the other. But they controlled this one, and it was a big relief to Tite.
“I’m apparently at peace,” the Brazil coach said. “I’m still going to have a drink tonight for sure, a caipirinha. I’ll allow myself.”
Paulinho gave his team the lead when he met a lofted ball from Philippe Coutinho in the 36th minute. The defensive midfielder let the ball bounce in front of him near the penalty spot and kicked his right leg in the air to tap it over the goalkeeper’s fingertips.
Silva scored with a powerful header in the 68th minute from Neymar’s corner.
Brazil finished first in Group E and will next face Mexico in the round of 16 on Monday in Samara. Serbia was eliminated, finishing third in the group behind Switzerland.
Both of Brazil’s goals came when Serbia threatened to get back into the match.
The Serbs nearly scored in the 61st when Brazil goalkeeper Alisson pushed the ball into the path of forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, whose shot bounced off the keeper and was bound for goal before being cleared by Silva.
“In the second half we tried to play with more risk,” Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic said. “We had chances to equalize, but we missed our chances and we were punished.”
For most of the first half, Brazil couldn’t break through Serbia’s compact back line. But Paulinho, the player that Tite calls his “secret weapon,” lived up to his name by scoring the first goal at Spartak Stadium.
Four years ago, Paulinho was part of the Brazil team that was humiliated at home in a 7-1 drubbing by Germany in the semifinals. He said he’s learned so much since then, leaving Tottenham for a spell in China before joining Barcelona.
Brazil had an early setback when left back Marcelo was substituted in the 10th minute, limping off the field. Filipe Luis, who is playing at his first World Cup after failing to be selected in 2010 and 2014, was brought on to replace him.
The Brazilian soccer confederation later said Marcelo only had a back spasm and was fine.
Switzerland 2, Costa Rica 2 — Switzerland qualified for the round of 16 despite twice losing the lead in a draw with Costa Rica, which had already been eliminated.
Costa Rica scored from a Bryan Ruiz penalty kick in stoppage time to tie the match in Nizhny Novgorod, but it didn’t affect Switzerland’s progression as the second-place team in Group E.
Sweden 3, Mexico 0 — The Swedes rolled to a rout in Yekaterinburg, never challenged in the second half, overtaking Mexico to win Group F just four nights after a gut-wrenching lastminute loss to Germany.
The result, combined with South Korea’s 2-0 upset of the Germans, meant Sweden and Mexico — the group runner-up — advanced.
The defending champions from Germany go home early.
Ludwig Augustinsson volleyed a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa from close range five minutes into the second half, and captain Andreas Granqvist converted a penalty kick to help Sweden take control.