Brazil head for the last 16
The five-time world champions are heading for the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Switzerland thanks to Casemiro’s 83rd-minute strike.
Hard-fought win over Switzerland
Brazil secured their place in the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar after a hard-fought 1-0 win over a rocky Switzerland side on Monday, thanks to a late goal from Carlos Casemiro in an evenly matched game with few chances.
Switzerland put up a fight
The five-time world champions were not brilliant, but they were solid enough to make the most of one of their few chances to take all three points against an opponent who stood up to them and against whom they probably missed the ‘fantasy’ of Neymar Jr who, with qualification already guaranteed, will be able to rest his bad ankle ahead of the crossroads.
No spark in attack
In any case, Tite’s side felt the lack of their ’10’ and lacked spark up front, with the Swiss defence controlling all their attackers well, both the regulars and the ones the coach introduced to break the 0-0 deadlock, with Vinicius the most insistent, but with little reward.
Switzerland, more defensive
Tite opted for Lucas Paqueta to cover the positional position of the PSG striker, with Fred as a novelty in the eleven along with Eder Militao, relief on the right side of the also injured Danilo to measure a Switzerland where Murat Yakin was not as attacking as in the opener against Cameroon, to dispense with Xerdan Shaqiri by Fabian Rieder in search of containing the Brazilian wings.
Competitiveness
With more strength, the Swiss were able to counter the five-time world champions and once again showed their competitive edge. Brazil were not comfortable and lacked the vision to find their attacking trio, who were well controlled by the solid Swiss rearguard.
First big chance
Despite this, the first big chance, on the half-hour mark, fell to the ‘Verdeamarela’, created and finished by Vinicius, who first stole and then failed to finish off a great delivery from Raphinha, although he did demand reliability from Sommer.
Swiss response
This warning seemed to liven up the tempo for Tite’s side, but it was a mirage as their opponents again settled a duel with no further chances apart from an unsuccessful Vargas run into the Brazilian box.
Changes in both teams
The second half was a little livelier but not overly bright, although Brazil introduced Rodrygo Goes for Lucas Paqueta to improve in the final and decisive metres. On the other hand, the first scares came from Switzerland, with a good run from full-back Widmer that Rieder failed to deal with in the best possible way, and pressure from Embolo that almost created a serious problem for Alisson.
Goal disallowed for Vinicius
But from that point on, Murat Yakin’s team had little more to do in the Liverpool goalkeeper’s area. Switzerland also paid for the effort as the minutes ticked by and the spaces, and a few mistakes, gradually appeared. In one of them, Vinicius was finally able to run and beat Sommer, but the VAR disallowed it for offside by Richarlison.
More fresh legs for Brazil
Tite decided to bring on more fresh legs with Antony and Gabriel Jesus for the inadequate Raphinha and Richarlison and although there was no great impact, Brazil ended up taking the game. Vinicius, Rodrygo and Casemiro were reminiscent of old times and the midfielder slammed home the latter’s first-time pass to make it 1-0.
Switzerland could not react
Without much attacking punch, Switzerland had no time to react and Rodrygo had two good chances to have made it 1-0.
