Brazil disappointed with draw
ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA — Brazil joined the list of big teams struggling to win their opening matches at the World Cup in Russia.
The five-time champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland on Sunday, a few hours after four-time champion Germany was beaten by Mexico 1-0.
Philippe Coutinho gave Brazil the lead in the 20th minute with a volley that bounced in off the right post. Steven Zuber then headed in the equalizer in the 50th. Mexican referee Cesar Ramos dismissed complaints that Zuber had shoved defender Miranda before getting to the corner from Xherdan Shaqiri.
"I was pushed out of the way. There is video of what happened and the referee could have seen it. But it didn't happen," Miranda said. "We got a draw but this is only the beginning for us. We knew this game wasn't going to be easy."
Ramos also ignored a penalty claim late in the second half when Gabriel Jesus was wrestled to the ground by Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji.
Switzerland's players dominated the midfield for long spells against a Brazil team that lost its previous World Cup match 7-1 to Germany in the 2014 semifinals.
Serbia 1, Costa Rica 0
SAMARA, RUSSIA — As Serbia celebrated its 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in the World Cup on Sunday, the celebratory mood briefly turned somber.
Captain Aleksandar Kolarov was named man of the match for his game-winning goal from a free kick early in the second half. But his thoughts turned to Goran Bunjevcevic, sporting director of the Serbian federation, who had a stroke last month and required emergency surgery.
Koralov dedicated both the win and his goal to Bunjevcevic.
"He's had some health problems. We want to relay this message to him and his family that we are 100 percent behind him," Koralov said.
Bunjevcevic, 45, played for the national team from 1998-2003, appearing in 16 matches. A defender, he played for Tottenham from 2001-06.
Following his playing career he was sporting director at one of his former teams, Red Star Belgrade, and another Serbian club, Zemun. He took his current post with the Serbian federation in August 2016.
Kolarov's goal, which curled over the wall in the 56th minute, gave Serbia a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica at Samara Stadium in the team's opening match in Russia.
It was Serbia's first World Cup victory since 2010 against Germany in the group stage. Serbia didn't qualify for the 2014 edition in Brazil.
The team moves on to play Switzerland on Friday in Kaliningrad, and wraps up the group stage in Moscow against Brazil on June 27.