A Brazil aspect missing spark with out the injured Neymar wanted a late strike from Casemiro to edge out Switzerland 1-0 on Monday because the five-time winners secured their place within the World Cup final 16 with one recreation to spare. The Brazilians had been pissed off by an stubborn Swiss aspect at Doha’s Stadium 974 and it seemed as in the event that they must accept some extent after a Vinicius Junior strike within the second half was disallowed for offside following a VAR verify. However then, with seven minutes remaining, Bruno Guimaraes flicked the ball on to Casemiro simply contained in the field and the Manchester United midfielder’s volley flew into the web with the assistance of a slight however important deflection off Manuel Akanji.
Tite’s aspect are simply the second group to qualify for the final 16 after France and the one aspect aside from the holders to have gained each group matches thus far in Qatar.
With six factors they are going to be tempted to relaxation gamers for his or her last Group G recreation towards Cameroon on Friday, when a draw will safe them prime spot.
Switzerland, in the meantime, did not muster a shot on course however stay on target to qualify too, with the 3-3 draw between Serbia and Cameroon earlier which means a win towards the Serbians will take Murat Yakin’s aspect by way of and a draw can also suffice. They’ve made a behavior of creating no less than the primary knockout spherical at main tournaments, whereas Brazil are in Qatar to win a sixth World Cup and nothing much less will do.
The Selecao had been at all times going to overlook Neymar, though coach Tite has stated he’s assured the Paris Saint-Germain celebrity will recuperate from his ankle damage to play an element once more on the finals.
After the category of Richarlison made the distinction of their opening win over Serbia, this was a reminder for the Brazilians of the energy in depth within the European recreation.
4 years in the past, earlier than being dumped out by Belgium within the quarter-finals, they had been additionally held by Switzerland within the group stage.
Fred in for Neymar
Yakin’s aspect due to this fact had no purpose to worry Brazil, who launched Manchester United midfielder Fred into their line-up rather than Neymar. Because of this they had been arrange in a 4-3-3 formation, with Fred and Lucas Paqueta both aspect of Casemiro, whereas Eder Militao –- habitually a centre-back for Actual Madrid -– stood in for the injured Danilo at right-back.
There have been solely flashes of what Brazil might do in a irritating first half, with the loudest cheers from the lots of supporters in yellow and inexperienced within the stands coming when the large display confirmed two-time World Cup-winning striker Ronaldo within the stands.
Vinicius had the perfect probability of the opening interval when he related with a Raphinha cross on the again submit within the twenty seventh minute, however Yann Sommer tipped the Actual Madrid winger’s effort behind.
Switzerland had been with out one in all their essential artistic sparks in Xherdan Shaqiri, who was lacking as a consequence of an obvious thigh downside and changed by Fabian Rieder.
That Tite was not glad with Brazil’s first-half displaying was clear when he hooked Paqueta at half-time and despatched on Rodrygo.
The 21-year-old was concerned when Brazil thought that they had taken the lead simply after the hour mark, serving to acquire possession in midfield earlier than Casemiro launched Vinicius to run by way of and beat Sommer.
However the celebrations had been minimize shot because the purpose was disallowed by VAR for an offside towards Richarlison. Tite turned to his bench and despatched on extra contemporary attackers in Gabriel Jesus and Antony, however the purpose lastly arrived from one of many least probably sources in Casemiro and Brazil noticed out a deserved victory.
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