Serbia 0-2 Brazil REPORT: Philippe Coutinho inspires Samba stars as Paulinho and Thiago Silva find net
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Loading... - Agnes Johnson
- 28 Jun 2021
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Neymar may remain Brazil's poster boy, the current icon of the Samba Boys.
But it is the man who replaced him at Barcelona, Philippe Coutinho, who has arguably emerged as Brazil's most influential player in their quest for a sixth World Cup.
After a subdued start in Russia, Neymar got his mojo back here, playing with customary flair and fluency, as Brazil eased their way into a last 16 tie with Mexico on Monday in Samara.
But it was Coutinho, who scored a majestic goal in Brazil's opening game, who provided a contender for assist of the tournament and who is delivering consistently for Brazil.
The former Liverpool playmaker was in irresistible form here, opening up Serbia with deliveries of breathtaking quality, both vision and execution in jaw-dropping unison.
To single out Coutinho ahead of Neymar, when the latter had his best game of the tournament so far, may seem harsh, but the Barca star ultimately made the difference.
Brazil toiled in their opening two games, an uninspiring 1-1 draw with Switzerland followed by an equally laboured 2-0 win over Costa Rica, which exposed Brazil's underlying vulnerabilities.
Neymar seemed burdened by the weight of expectation on him in those games, but he and Brazil were liberated here, playing with a swagger that confirmed they are back in the groove.
After nutmegging an opponent inside the first minute, Neymar then embarking on a surging run through the middle which had Serbia on the back-foot.
Three minutes later he released Gabriel Jesus, who looked offside, but whose angled shot was blocked before the referee's assistant raised his flag.
And it was Neymar who conjured the first real chance of the game, in the 25 minute, seizing on a loose ball and forcing a fine reflex save from Vladimir Stojkovic with an angled effort.
With his mojo back, Neymar played another defence-splitting ball over the top of the Serbia defence to Jesus, whose finishing let him down yet again when it mattered.
Serbia found it increasingly hard to contain Neymar, Adam Ljajic taking him out and earning a booking on the half-hour, with the Brazil star threatening to open them up again.
A Brazil goal was only a matter of time and it duly came after 36 minutes, Coutinho producing another sublime delivery over the top, with Paulinho eluding his pursuers to apply the finish.
Coutinho had already played two balls over the top before executing a the delivery that yielded the goal, but Serbia had not heeded those earlier warnings and paid the price.
There were, however, some anxious moments for Brazil, not least when Miranda hoiked the ball dangerously close to his own net after a mix-up with goalkeeper Alisson.
And there was a further scare when Alisson punched the ball straight at Aleksandar Mitrovic, with Thiago Silva on hand to prevent the ball from going in.
It amounted to a chaotic 20-minute period after the break for Brazil, one in which they came under sustained pressure but scored their second just when they were wobbling.
Neymar slung in a corner from the left and Thiago Silva rose at the near post to power a header into the net and kill off any hopes of a Serbia comeback, with Brazil marching on.
Brazil’s confirmation as Group E winners put them in the tougher half of the draw along with Uruguay, Portugal, France, Argentina and their last 16 opponents Mexico.
Against that backdrop, England’s chances would surely be enhanced by finishing second in Group G and avoiding that side of the draw, packed with so many established nations.
