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 last 16 with one sport to spare.
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The Brazilians had been pissed off by an stubborn Swiss aspect at Doha’s Stadium 974 and it appeared as if they’d have to accept some extent after a Vinicius Junior strike within the second half was disallowed for offside following a VAR verify.
But 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 online with the assistance of a slight however important deflection off Manuel Akanji.
Tite’s aspect are simply the second crew to qualify for the last 16 after France and the one aspect aside from the holders to have gained each group matches to this point in Qatar.
With six factors they are going to be tempted to relaxation gamers for his or her last Group G sport in opposition to Cameroon on Friday, when a draw will safe them high spot.
Switzerland, in the meantime, failed to muster a shot heading in the right direction however stay on track to qualify too, with the 3-3 draw between Serbia and Cameroon earlier which means a win in opposition to the Serbians will take Murat Yakin’s aspect by means of and a draw might also suffice.
They have 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 have been all the time going to miss Neymar, though coach Tite has mentioned he’s assured the Paris Saint-Germain celebrity will recuperate from his ankle harm to play a component 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 power in depth within the European sport.
Four years in the past, earlier than being dumped out by Belgium within the quarter-finals, they have been additionally held by Switzerland within the group stage.
– Fred in for Neymar –
Yakin’s aspect due to this fact had no cause to worry Brazil, who launched Manchester United midfielder Fred into their line-up instead of Neymar.
As a consequence they have 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 Real Madrid -– stood in for the injured Danilo at right-back.
There have been solely flashes of what Brazil may 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 screen confirmed two-time World Cup-winning striker Ronaldo within the stands.
Vinicius had the very best likelihood of the opening interval when he related with a Raphinha cross on the again put up within the twenty seventh minute, however Yann Sommer tipped the Real Madrid winger’s effort behind.
Switzerland have been with out certainly one of their primary artistic sparks in Xherdan Shaqiri, who was lacking due to an obvious thigh drawback and changed by Fabian Rieder.
That Tite was not happy with Brazil’s first-half exhibiting 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 means of and beat Sommer.
But the celebrations have been reduce shot because the goal was disallowed by VAR for an offside in opposition to Richarlison.
Tite turned to his bench and despatched on extra contemporary attackers in Gabriel Jesus and Antony, however the goal lastly arrived from one of many least seemingly sources in Casemiro and Brazil noticed out a deserved victory.
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