FIFA WC PIX: Brazil silence Serbia in style

IMAGE: Brazil’s Neymar battles for possession with Serbia’s Nemanja Gudelj and Sasa Lukic in the course of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group G match. {Photograph}: Michael Steele/Getty Photographs

Brazil outclassed Serbia 2-0 of their World Cup opener on Thursday as Richarlison’s second-half targets, together with a spectacular overhead kick, propelled the five-times champions to the highest of Group G.

The Tottenham Hotspur ahead has been in nice type when sporting the golden yellow equipment of Brazil this yr and he opened the scoring with a straightforward tap-in earlier than doubling the lead together with his acrobatic effort.

Tite’s determination to go along with 4 forwards – Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Raphinha and Richarlison – in his attacking lineup paid off handsomely because the South Individuals dominated the match and made Serbia work arduous each time they went ahead.

IMAGE: Serbia’s Strahinja Pavlovic controls the ball beneath stress from Raphinha. {Photograph}: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Photographs

Vinicius used his acceleration to good impact to continuously beat his man whereas Neymar, taking part in in a free position, usually discovered pockets of area, however a well-drilled Serbian defence stored Brazil at bay within the first half.

Serbia had been sweating over the health of their all-time high scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic however coach Dragan Stojkovic named him within the beginning lineup.

In contrast to Brazil’s ahead line, nevertheless, which threatened from all sides, the Fulham striker discovered himself remoted up entrance with little service.

IMAGE: Brazil’s Vinicius Junior is fouled by Serbia’s Nikola Milenkovic. {Photograph}: Michael Steele/Getty Photographs

The second half was one-way site visitors as Brazil shifted by means of the gears, Richarlison and Neymar losing gilt-edged possibilities contained in the field and Alex Sandro and Casemiro sending long-range efforts in opposition to the woodwork.

The breakthrough got here simply after the hour from good work by Neymar to search out Vinicius, whose preliminary shot was saved by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, however Richarlison was in the proper place to faucet within the rebound for his first World Cup purpose.

Serbia had been taking part in conservatively as much as that time and had no selection however to pour ahead, which gave Brazil extra space and the second purpose from Richarlison introduced the largest roar of the evening from the Brazilian contingent.

IMAGE: Brazil’s Richarlison scores the workforce’s second purpose. {Photograph}: Justin Setterfield/Getty Photographs

As Richarlison tried to regulate a cross from Vinicius, the ball popped up over his head and he leapt up within the air to volley residence a bicycle kick and seal the win for Brazil.

Switzerland are second within the group after they beat Cameroon 1-0 and Serbia are backside.

IMAGE: Brazil’s Alisson Becker makes a save in opposition to Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic. {Photograph}: Michael Steele/Getty Photographs