Fifa World Cup - Russia 2018

FT Switzerland holds Brazil to a 1 all draw #WorldCupRussia

Neymar. Almost! Brazil is desperate for a winner and Neymar comes so close. He meets a cross into the area on the run but can only direct the effort straight at the goalkeeper.

CLOSE! Neymar whips in a fantastic ball into the box and Thiago Silva directs it goalward. But Sommer is there to parry it away.

Neymar

Pre-tournament favourites Brazil failed to win their opening game of a World Cup for the first time since 1978 as Switzerland earned a valuable draw in Rostov-on-Don.

The five-time champions, so often lauded for their flair, failed to sparkle after Philippe Coutinho’s superbly curled opener on 20 minutes.

Tite’s side – with Gabriel Jesus and Willian alongside Neymar in a front three – could offer only fleeting moments of fluid play and Steven Zuber’s header from a corner earned the Swiss a deserved point.

Brazil may point to a push by Zuber to free him from his marker but the fact Coutinho’s strike remained their only effort on target until 77 minutes points to their struggles in the final third.

The draw brings to an end a run of nine wins in their opening World Cup fixture and both sides now trail Serbia, who beat Costa Rica earlier in Group E.

It has not been a good day for the favourites in the World Cup. Germany were beaten and now Brazil have been held by the Swiss. The Canaries were coasting at one stage but have been pegged back by one moment of carelessness. They should have scored more than a goal in the first half.

Source – BBC