Qatar 2022: Brazil Book R16 Slot After Slim 1-0 Win Over Switzerland

With Neymar out due to an ankle Injury, Brazil scored late against Switzerland, thanks to a magnificent strike from Casemiro to end the game at 1-0, thus booking a R16 slot with six points in group G.

The five-time world champions overall dominated the first period, despite wasting some good chances.

Vinicius, very incisive all evening, got the best chance of the first period: a half-volley – six meters from goal, but the Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer produced a good save to match the attempt.

At the break, Tite modified his offensive animation, replacing Paqueta with Rodrygo, with a style of play closer to that of Neymar, and who sometimes plays playmaker at Real Madrid.

On returning from the locker room, the Swiss had a strong moment which they should have taken. Alex Sandro, with a perfect tackle in his own six meter, saved the South Americans before Vargas could get close enough to the ball.

But the imprecision of the Swiss in the final third prevented them from scoring.

Shortly after, Vinicius again used his speed and agility to slip his way inside the area of the europeans. He first scored a superb goal – denied by VAR for offside at the start of the action, before he took off in full flight again a few minutes later, forcing Manuel Akanji to foul him.

Of all people, it was holding midfeilder – Casemiro who gave victory and qualification to Brazil. Superbly served by a subtle flick from Rodrygo on the left of the 18 yard box, he hit the ball with a half-volley, with the outside of his boots which ended any Swiss race to catch Brazil in the game at the 83rd minute.

In the dying minutes, as Switzerland opened up spaces, Vinicius missed a chance that would have made it 2-0, as he preferred not to play Rodrygo in.

For Switzerland, the last match against Serbia will be decisive on Friday evening. In the event of a second defeat, it would be eliminated Switzerland from the competition.

The Swiss are on 3 points, and they will have to validate their qualification on Friday (at 8 p.m.) against Serbia, who have only one point after a draw against Cameroon (equally 1 point) in the afternoon.