It was amusing that, after full-time in a slim World Cup win over Switzerland, Casemiro described himself as a firefighter, because it was solely with the midfielder’s 83rd-minute strike {that a} managed however labouring Brazil efficiency caught alight. “It is rather clear that my very first goal is to help the workforce, to place out fires wherever they might be,” mentioned Casemiro, who was rapidly described on Twitter as the most effective midfielder on this planet by injured team-mate Neymar. “However, nonetheless, if there is a chance to take a bit of shot on objective, I believe that’s essential.”Important, actually, because the 30-year-old’s good effort from Rodrygo’s high-quality flick earned a 1-0 victory that noticed Brazil grow to be the second aspect, after France, to e-book their place within the final 16, that pair joined by Portugal earlier than the shut of the day.After the colourful victory over Serbia that had introduced Brazil’s arrival at this match within the shimmering soapdish that’s Lusail Stadium 4 days earlier, this was much less glamorous and extra businesslike from Tite’s aspect at a floor constructed out of transport containers. With out the line-breaking skills of Neymar, the Selecao had been pissed off by the well-drilled Swiss, for whom Manchester Metropolis’s Manuel Akanji was excellent. Learn MoreVinicius Jr missed one among few clear-cut probabilities within the first half, then had a would-be opener dominated out by the VAR for an offside within the second, because the five-times champions seemed set to observe the vogue of second-game actuality checks set by England, Spain, Japan and the Netherlands. Some extent would have been no catastrophe, however that they discovered a strategy to win — with out Neymar — was a feather within the cap of the favourites at a match the place, save France, no aspect has but put collectively successive convincing performances.Consistency has been exhausting to come back by — Iran and Costa Rica didn’t even decide to being persistently unhealthy — and forward of the ultimate spherical of group-stage fixtures at this World Cup beginning this afternoon, 27 of the 32 groups had been as but uncertain of their destiny.France have to this point set the usual, thrashing Australia and beating a well-fancied Denmark , with Kylian Mbappe in full flight, whereas Brazil and Spain don’t look too far behind.
England and Wales fansJeremy SelwynGhanaAFP by way of Getty ImagesBrazil AFP by way of Getty ImagesSouth Korea’AFP by way of Getty ImagesCameroon AFP by way of Getty ImagesCosta RicaAFP by way of Getty ImagesSpainAFP by way of Getty ImagesCroatia AFP by way of Getty ImagesMorocco AFP by way of Getty ImagesMexicoAFP by way of Getty ImagesQatarAFP by way of Getty ImagesBrazilAFP by way of Getty Photographs
How issues pan out from right here, although, shall be intriguing.On the one hand, this can be a World Cup plagued by tight turnarounds and little time to make up floor. On the opposite, there should be substantial room to develop right into a match that almost all groups have approached from a novel standing begin — as long as they don’t seem to be knocked out first. Arriving so swiftly after the pausing of the European membership season, these group matches have, in some methods, felt like warm-up video games inside the match itself; definitely not with reference to pleasure or depth, however by way of the fact-finding and identity-hunting nonetheless happening among the many supposed main contenders. Germany, as an example, stay unsettled on the make-up and construction of their defensive, midfield and ahead traces, whereas England flipped to a back-four to begin the match however won’t keep it up for lengthy. REUTERSArgentina, after shedding for the primary time in 37 matches, made a drastic 5 adjustments to their aspect for the second recreation, whereas even France, themselves, set on their plans arriving in Qatar, have needed to alter to but extra accidents within the fortnight since. The Netherlands and Belgium declare to know their finest groups, however are but to area them, working with place-holders for undercooked star forwards, and Brazil are contingency planning on the hop for what they hope will show solely a short interval with out Neymar. Solely Spain and, maybe, Portugal would, you sense, be set on their finest XI for a primary knockout recreation had been it to be performed tomorrow.