Swiss timing: Brazil get the chocolates
Brazil struggle to create scoring chances without their playmaker
Struggling and unconvincing without Neymar on the field, Brazil still played well enough to secure a spot in the next round of the World Cup. The five-time champions overcame the absence of their injured star to beat Switzerland 1-0 with a late goal yesterday and make the round of 16 with a match to spare in Group G.
“Of course we miss a player like Neymar,” Brazil coach Tite said. “The team loses a lot without him. But we also have other players who can get the job done, as we saw [against Switzerland].”
Casemiro got the only goal in the 83rd minute of a game in which Brazil had difficulties creating scoring chances without their playmaker.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. We had to be patient,” Casemiro said. “Out first objective was to advance and we achieved that.”
Neymar stayed at the team’s hotel to treat a right ankle injury sustained in their opening win over Serbia. He posted an Instagram story showing him watching the match on television while undergoing treatment on his foot.
“Casemiro has been the best defensive midfielder in the world for a long time,” Neymar wrote on Twitter.
Team doctors have not yet given a timetable for Neymar’s return — or said if he will return at all.
Vinicius Jinior said Neymar also had a fever yesterday, although the team had not officially said anything about it.
“We know that Neymar is a great player and that he makes a difference,” Brazil defender Marquinhos said. “In difficult moments, he takes on the responsibility and creates the opportunities, but we showed once again that we have quality players to make up for his absence.”
The win gave Brazil six points from two matches, leaving Switzerland with three. Serbia and Cameroon, who drew 3-3 earlier yesterday, have one point each.
Switzerland, who had no attempts on target, need to beat Serbia on Saturday to guarantee a spot in the next stage. A draw may be enough, depending on the match between Brazil and Cameroon.
The result extended Brazil’s unbeaten run in the group stage to 17 matches, with 14 wins and three draws. They have lost only one of their last 29 group games, with the last defeat coming against Norway in 1998 in France.
Switzerland had lost only two of their last 13 group matches at the World Cup.
“I can’t really blame the team, it did a good job for quite some time,” Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said. “I don’t think it’s a disappointment.
We have a lot of good takeaways here. The next game is something we have control over.”
It was an even match early on, with both teams trying to control the game but not creating many significant chances. Without Neymar, Brazil struggled to get near Switzerland’s area until Casemiro’s goal. The assists came from Vinicius Junios and Rodrygo, the Real Madrid players who until recently had Casemiro as their teammate. Casemiro now plays for Manchester United.
Tite replaced Neymar with Fred, Casemiro’s teammate at United, freeing up Lucas Paqueta to play closer to the attack. E´ der Militao, who plays as a central defender at Real Madrid, came in for Danilo in the right back position, instead of veteran Dani Alves.
With Paqueta not being able to create much for Brazil, Tite began the second half with Rodrygo in the team. Richarlison, who scored both of Brazil’s goals in the opener, was not as effective and was substituted in the second half.
Vinicius Junior thought he had given Brazil the lead with a shot from inside the area after a pass by Casemiro in the 64th minute, but a video review determined there was offside in the build-up. Few had noticed it until the VAR call was announced at Stadium 974.