POISE FROM BRAZIL
Neymar & Co ease through to Mexico tie
SERBIA 0 BRAZIL 2 IT WAS sweet 16 for Brazil after goals from Paulinho and Thiago Silva saw them cruise into the next round.
Paulinho opened the scoring following a superb assist from Philippe Coutinho and Silva headed in the second direct from a corner. Tite’s side now face Mexico on Monday.
NEYMAR may remain Brazil’s poster boy.
But it is the man who replaced him at Barcelona, Philippe Coutinho, who is emerging as the Samba Boys’ most influential player in their quest for a sixth World Cup. After a subdued start in Russia, Neymar got his mojo back here, playing with flair and fluency, as Brazil eased their way into a last-16 tie with Mexico on Monday.
But it is Coutinho (left) who consistently delivers.
The former Liverpool playmaker was irresistible here, opening up Serbia with passes of breathtaking quality.
To single out Coutinho ahead of Neymar, when the latter had his best game of the tournament so far, may seem harsh. However, it was the new Barca star who ultimately made the
difference. Brazil toiled in their opening two games, with Neymar seemingly burdened by the weight of expectation on him.
But he and Brazil were liberated here, playing with a swagger that confirmed they are back in the groove.
He conjured up the first real chance of the game, in the 25th minute, seizing on a loose ball and forcing a fine reflex save from Vladimir Stojkovic with an angled effort.
Serbia found it increasingly hard to contain Neymar, with Adem Ljajic taking him out to earn a booking on the half-hour. A Brazil goal was only a matter of time and it duly came after 36 minutes.
Coutinho had already played two balls over the top before executing the delivery that yielded the opener. He produced another sublime delivery over the top, with Paulinho eluding his pursuers to apply the finish.
There were, however, some anxious moments for Brazil, not least when Miranda hoiked the ball dangerously close to his own net after a mix-up with goalkeeper Alisson. And there was a further scare when Alisson punched the ball straight at Aleksandar Mitrovic, with Thiago Silva on hand to prevent the ball from going in.
It amounted to a chaotic 20-minute period after the break for the Brazilians, in which they came under sustained pressure.
But just when they were wobbling, Neymar slung in a corner from the left and Thiago Silva rose at the near post to power a header into the net.
That killed off any hopes of a Serbia comeback, and confirmed Brazil’s place as Group E winners. However, that put them in the tougher half of the draw along with Uruguay, Portugal, France, Argentina and Mexico.
Against that backdrop, England’s chances would surely be enhanced by finishing second in Group G and avoiding that side of the draw, packed with so many established nations.