Brazil’s No. 09 striker Richarlison (right) scores his team’s second goal during the 2022 World Cup Group G soccer match between Brazil and Serbia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 24 2022. (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP )
LUSAIL, Qatar-Brazil overcame Serbia 2-0 in Thursday’s World Cup opener as Richarlison scored two goals in the second half, including a fine header, despite an ankle injury Neymar’s performance hindered their celebration.
Richarlison has been in fine form wearing Brazil’s gold kit this year and he opened the scoring with an easy touch before doubling the lead with his acrobatic effort.
It was his ninth goal for Brazil in seven games in 2022 as Brazil overcame Switzerland, who beat Cameroon 1-0, to top Group G. Serbia finished bottom.
“As our professor Tite said, ‘you’re smelling the target,’ and that’s what’s happening,” says Richarlison.
“It was a great night, a beautiful win and now we have six games to hit our target.”
Tite’s decision to use four strikers – Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Raphinha and Richarlison – in his attacking formation paid off well as the South Americans dominated the game and put Serbia in a tough spot every time. they advance.
Vinicius used his flair and acceleration to good effect to consistently beat his man while Neymar, playing in a free position, often found gaps, but the Serbian defence. was well tolerated which caused Brazil to be saved in the first half.
However, Brazil’s best chance of the first half came when Neymar tried to catch goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic off guard from a corner, slamming a winger on target before the player. Torino punches the ball out.
Neymar injury
However, a near-perfect night for Brazil turned sour when Neymar came off in the 80th minute with what looked like an ankle injury after a rough tackle from Nikola Milenkovic.
It was the same right foot that Neymar had previously had problems with and the Paris St Germain striker, the world’s most expensive player, sat on the bench with his face covered while he received treatment. when Brazil watched the game.
Brazil’s team doctor said they would need a day or two before his swollen ankle could be assessed but Tite said he did not think the 30-year-old would miss the rest of the tournament.
“We are confident that Neymar will continue to compete in the World Cup,” Tite told reporters.
“I don’t see Neymar getting injured. The energy he had to overcome it fooled me too,” he added when asked why Neymar wasn’t withdrawn sooner.
Mitrovic is isolated
Serbia was sweating for the fitness of all-time top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic but coach Dragan Stojkovic filled his name in the starting line-up.
However, unlike Brazil’s forward line, which is threatened from all sides, the Fulham forward finds himself isolated in attack without much service as captain and midfield playmaker Dusan Tadic had difficulty influencing the course of the game.
The second half was one-way traffic as Brazil shifted into gears, Richarlison and Neymar squandered sharp opportunities in the box and Alex Sandro and Casemiro made long-range efforts against the defence.
The breakthrough came just an hour from Neymar’s brilliant goal to find Vinicius, whose first shot was saved by Milinkovic-Savic, but Richarlison was in the right place to score his first World Cup goal.
Serbia had played cautiously up to that point and had no choice but to push forward, which gave Brazil more space and Richarlison’s second goal provided the biggest buzz of the night for Brazilian team.
As Richarlison tried to control Vinicius’ pass, the ball bounced over his head and he leaped into the air to make a bicycle volley home, sealing victory for Brazil, the title-hunting team. winning a record sixth World Cup.
“In the second half, we were physically weak and we were no longer playing as a team. And everyone knows Brazil has excellent players and they punished us,” Stojkovic said.
“I feel sorry that we don’t have Mitrovic and (Filip) Kostic at 100%. They were not ready.
“The intensity in the second half was high and we gave Brazil too much space. I don’t know why the intensity of our players has dropped, it’s strange.”
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