Two goals from Richarlison inspired Brazil to a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Serbia on Thursday evening.
A scrappy game came to life after the break as Brazil found their groove and Richarlison grabbed two impressive goals to give the pre-tournament favourites the ideal start to life in Qatar.
Neymar nearly caught out Serbia goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic directly from a corner after ten minutes, with the former Manchester United goalkeeper reacting well to beat the ball away.
Milinkovic-Savic came to his team’s rescue again soon after as he raced off his line to confront the electric Vinicius Junior, diving at the Real Madrid man’s feet to clear the danger before he could get a shot off.
Raphinha and Vinicius Junior should have done far better with chances soon after as Brazil, while dominant, failed to really ask any questions of the 6’9 monster in between Serbia’s posts inside the first 45 minutes.
After the break, Brazil’s first real opportunity came after ten minutes as Neymar misjudged a cross and slashed a good chance well wide of the goal.
Alex Sandro then struck the post with a fierce strike from range, before Richarlison finally opened the scoring just after the hour mark.
Some nice work in the box from Neymar ended with the ball at the feet of Vinicius, whose strike was parried into the path of the Tottenham forward to tap home and put Brazil deservedly ahead.
His first was a bit scrappy but there was nothing but class about Richarlison’s second. With 15 minutes to go, he got up to meet a cross with an outrageous bicycle kick which thundered into the back of the net and sealed the win in emphatic style.
Casemiro had a sensational attempt at a third as he fired at goal from range, but Milinkovic-Savic was equal to it.
They didn’t need the third, however, as Serbia offered very little going forwards and allowed Brazil to waltz to victory.
GK: Alisson – 6/10 – Didn’t have a whole lot to do.
RB: Danilo – 5/10 – Defensively sound but games like this require more in attack.
CB: Thiago Silva – 8/10 – Did everything he needed at the back and operated like a quarterback in possession, picking apart Serbia’s defence with ease.
CB: Marquinhos – 7/10 – Equally as comfortable as his defensive partner. Will be relieved to have avoided a battle with Mitrovic.
LB: Alex Sandro – 5/10 – Needed to do so much more down the left wing.
DM: Casemiro – 8/10 – Sublime passing range. Didn’t have a lot of defending to do so had all the freedom in the world to flash his more…
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