Brazil one step closer to redemption

Brazil are coming into form as the knockout stage starts, with a convincing win against Serbia to top Group E.

One point. That’s all Brazil needed to advance to the knockout stages of the World Cup against Serbia on Wednesday, as they continue on their redemption journey four years in the making. With a convincing performance they secured all three, which, combined with a Swiss draw, saw them top the group and secure a round of 16 match with Group F runners-up Mexico.

Even before kickoff, it seemed things were going right for the selecao, as the Germany team who stuffed them 7-1 in their own backyard four years ago lost 2-0 to South Korea to drop out at the group stage for the first time. That said, there was nothing lucky about their 2-0 win, in which Paulinho scored the winner in the 36th minute and Thiago Silva headed in the dagger in the 68th.

Though he didn’t score, Neymar shrugged off an inauspicious start to the World Cup, reducing his diving and other distasteful antics (much to the relief of at least one bar, which offered drinks for every time he fell down), while playing a bigger role in the attack, including providing the assist for Silva’s header. Philippe Coutinho, meanwhile, has proven himself a worthy partner for Neymar in attacking midfield, and provided the assist for the first goal in another assured performance.

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Brazil also looked solid at the back, conceding only two shots on target and seven overall. Alisson, but for one poorly played cross, was impeccable. An injury to Marcelo was the only bad news, but Filipe Luis is a reliable enough backup, even if he doesn’t offer the same thrust going forward. The extent of Marcelo’s injury remains to be seen.

Tite’s side may have won the group, but they find themselves on what appears to be the much harder side of the bracket. If they get past Mexico, they’ll likely have to beat some combination of France, Portugal, Argentina and either Belgium or England to make it to the final.

If Neymar performs as well as he did today, Coutinho continues to dictate things in midfield and the back line keeps its discipline, they could very well go all the way.