Despite the absence of injured Neymar, Brazil qualified for the round of 16 on Monday by beating Switzerland 1-0 in Doha, thanks to a late goal from Casemiro. With six points, coach Tite’s men are at the top of group G. The Swiss, for their part, will have to validate their qualification on Friday against Serbia, who have only one point after their draw against Cameroon in the post-season. midday.
Neymar, the playmaker and technical leader of the Seleçao, was not at the stadium to see his partners win. Injured in the ankle, he had stayed in the hospital to continue his physiotherapy sessions. Brazilian coach Tite had given his position to Paqueta, on the left flank of the attacking system. The five-time world champions overall dominated the first period, despite some technical waste.
Incisive Vinicius
Vinicius, extremely incisive all evening, obtained the best opportunity of the first period: a half-volley in the six-meter race, but the Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer released the essential parade (27th).
Raphinha then took his chance from 25 meters but his powerful shot was too centered to worry the “Nati” and Mönchengladbach goalkeeper.
The Brazilians, on the other hand, had great difficulty in finding Richarlison, the man of the double against Serbia, often stuck in the defensive net that the Swiss had woven around him.
casemiro hero
Overall, we felt the two teams on the reserve, hesitating to take offensive risks, in a match that it was more important not to lose than to win. On returning from the locker room, the Swiss had a strong moment. Between the 50th and 60th minute, they put the Brazilian defense under pressure.
Alex Sandro, with a perfect tackle in his own six meters, saved the Brazilian homeland (53rd), before intervening in front of Vargas (54th). Shortly after, Vinicius again distinguished himself by his running speed to slip into the back of the defense. He first scored a superb goal against, refused by the VAR for an offside at the start of the action (64th). Then he took off again a few minutes later, forcing Manuel Akanji to make a mistake to prevent him from crossing (69th).
But it was Casemiro who gave victory and qualification to Brazil. Superbly served by a subtle deviation from Rodrygo on the left of the surface, he placed an outside cross foot in the opposite side netting, on which Sommer remained powerless (1-0).