Thiago and Paulinho score to take sloppy Brazil into knockouts FT 2-0

Brazil sail into the knockouts with a comfortable 2-0 win against Serbia. They will face Mexico on July 2 at Samara

Full time analysis:

Brazil booked their tickets for the knockouts with a 2-0 victory against Serbia. Paulinho opened the scoresheet whenhe pushed the ball into the back of the net from a brilliantly lobbed ball from Coutinho. 

There was no comparison between Brazil and Serbia in the second half. They squeezed the life out of Serbia with their sharp and energetic gameplay.

Serbia is now out of the World Cup 2018. Tite's Brazil have made it through to Group of 16. After Paulinho's beautiful chip, Thiago Silva headed the ball to double Brazil's lead.

Brazil outperformed Serbia from every aspect. Nothing was conducive for Serbia tonight and least of all their attacking force. Mitrovic had few chances but tonight was not his night.  

Brazil vs Serbia: Live commentry


Min 90: There will be at least three more minutes before Serbia head for the airport

Min 85: Fernandinho's clipped pass rebounds off Zivkovic goes to Neymar, who tries to lift the ball over the bar. But Stojkovic tackles it away.

Min 79: Renato Augusto replaces Coutinho. Brazil have started toying with their opponents now. Serbians have lost hope. 

Min 72: Zivkovic (in) replaces Ljajic (out) for Serbia

Min 70: Neymar makes a 50-yard run down the left flank. Serves the ball to Coutinho near Sebian box. Coutinho fails to create a room for his shot which is deflected behind for a corner.

Min 68: Thiago Silva scores from header. Neymar curls the second corner into the near post and Thiago Silva heads into the net from six yards!

Min 67: Fernandinho replaces Paulinho as the second substitution for the Brazil. 

Min 64: Looks like Serbians are everywhere. They are attacking from every possible and that's and indication that the game is not yet over for Serbia. 

Min 58: Brazil gets a corner which was easily cleared by Serbian defence.

Min 57: William head clears and feeds the ball to Coutinho who rolls and passes a sublime ball to Neymar. Neymar rolls the ball but the final touch get blocked by the Siberian goalkeeper. 

Min 52: Coutinho gets the ball rolling and move forward. Passes a ball to Neymar, who dodges 2-3 players and gives the ball back to Coutinho and then finally possession breaks down.

Min 50: Brazil is still dominating the possession. Serbia is getting a few chances but to no avail. Leave the overdoing part, Brazil has the ball in control.

Min 48: Matic is booked for a foul on Jesus.

Players are out of the tunnel. Here we go again
Half Time analysis:

It has been a lively first half at Saint Petersberg. Brazil is dominating the possession with all the vigour and energy. Coutinho's clip to Paunlinho was a thing of beauty. Serbia needs to show some class if they want to stay in World Cup 2018. Mitrovic has been kept quiet by Brazilian defence. Brazil's fluid attack and resolute defence is their key to the knockouts. First half has been a great watch.

Min 41: Serbia is already becoming a threat to Brazil's defence. They get another corner and which was easily cleared by Alisson. Serbia is just a moment way from that magic touch

Min 39: Brazil's obession and over-indulgence with ball is beyond annoying. Naive, unrequired trickery is not how you play a World Cup game. William just gave an example which resulted in Brazil's lost possession. Brazil should take a lesson from Messi's goal against Nigeria. 

Min 35: GOAL!!! A beautiful lofted ball from Coutinho finds the midfielder who sprints from deep to meet the pass. The No15 beats Stojkovic to the ball to poke past the onrushing goalkeeper.

Min 34: Silva boots Mitrovic in the head inside the Brazilian half. Tadic takes the freekick and lofts it inside the box only to be cleared easily.

Min 24: Gabriel Jesus beats two players in the box and then.nudges a short pass through to Neymar. Neymar curl the ball towards goal from a difficult angle. Stojkovic makes a great one-handed save.

Min 21: It's a great start from Brazil. They patiently hold the ball in mid field and run quick as flash as they move towards the Serbian box. 

Min 19: Serbia concedes a corner. Brazil's William floats the ball into the mixer which finally gets cleared after few popping by Brazilians near box.
  
Min 14: Milinkovic-Savic wins a corner for Serbia as his shot was deflected wide.

Min 11: Brazil had the start but Serbia is finally getting the foothold in the game. This is going to be a good contest.

Min 9:  Marcelo has been called off due to injury and has been replaced by Filipe Luis. A major change.

Min 5: William nudges Kolarov to the ground near half-way, giving Serbia a freekick.

Min 4: Neymar has the ball and shoots a low drive shot but gets blocked by Siberian goalkeeper. But all efforts dusted as Neymar is offside.  

Min 1: Serbia gets the ball rolling. Neymar gets the ball and cuts across two defenders to pass the ball to Coutinho and Coutinho shoots only to be blocked by Gabriel Jesus. 

And here we go. Kick-off. Serbians are wearing blood red jersey and Brazil is in sunny yellow tops.

Teams are out of tunnel. Anthems are being played. Serbia's first and Brazil's next. 

Here are the live updates:

Line-ups out: 

Serbia (4-2-3-1) : Stojkovic; Rukavina, Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Kolarov; Matic, Milinkovic-Savic; Tadic, Ljajic, Kostic; Mitrovic

Subs : Spajic, Tosic, Milivojevic, Ivanovic, Zivkovic, Prijovic, Rajkovic, Rodic, Grujic, Raonjic, Jovic, Dmitrovic

Brazil (4-2-3-1) : Alisson; Fagner, Miranda, Thiago Silva, Marcelo; Casemiro, Paulinho; Willian, Philippe Coutinho, Neymar; Jesus

Subs : Geromel, Flilpe Luis, Augusto, Marquinhos Cassio, Fernandinho, Fred, Firmino. Taison, Ederson, Costa, Danilo

Referee: A Faghani (Iran)

Brazil vs Serbia Line-up

The Selecaos need just a draw to secure qualification for the last 16.

For Serbia, a win would guarantee their progress although a draw could see them through if Switzerland lose to Costa Rica by more than one goal in the other group game.

Pre-tournament favourites Brazil haven't been at their best in the first two games, playing out a 1-1 draw against the Swiss and having to wait until injury time to finally secure the much-needed goals to win it against Costa Rica.

Although the manner of victory should give them a lot of confidence, coach Tite knows that they need to up their ante in all departments, more so with the incredible talent they have in their ranks.

Brazil will keep their starting XI more or less unchanged from the one that beat Costa Rica, but Douglas Costa who impressed after being substituted, will miss out due to a right-thigh muscle injury. Defender Danilo will also miss the last group stage match against Serbia.

The onus will again be on Neymar to lead a bunch of excellent footballers to a triumph. The five-time World Cup winners' most expensive player has not lived up to the hype and broke down in tears after the last-gasp win the other day. Brazil's inability to keep their emotions in check contributed to their spectacular implosion at the 2014 World Cup, so the common fear back in Rio is that once again the pressure might prove too much for the Selecaos in Russia.

Serbia, meanwhile, are coming into the game on the back of a deflating 1-2 loss to Switzerland.

Serbia were leading for much of the first half, thanks to Aleksandar Mitrovic's goal in the fifth minute. But twin strikes from Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri took the game away from them.  Although, the Serbians were real close in equalising but a denied penalty and a few missed chances latter, Switzerland went home with three points. The Balkans will have to lift their game by a few notches against Brazil who have the likes of Neymar, Phillipe Coutinho, Firmino and Gabriel Jesus to cause real trouble.

Mladen Krstajic's Serbia have strength but lack agility, a shortcoming that ultimately cost them the match against the Alp nation.

Mitrovic's aerial quality is a reason Serbia can be confident but overall the team will have to work really hard in order to make it through to the knockouts with a win against the Selecaos.

In World Cup, Brazil's defeats to the Balkan side came against the old Yugoslavia in 1930 and 1934.

When and Where to watch: Switzerland vs Costa Rica and Serbia vs Brazil

Time: 11:30 PM (IST)

In today's Group E match, Switzerland vs Costa Rica match will take place in Nizhny Novgorod and the second game of Group E, Serbia vs Brazil, will be played in Moscow's Spartak stadium on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at 11:30 PM (IST).

Switzerland vs Costa Rica and Serbia vs Brazil matches will be broadcast on Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony Six and Sony Six HD in English Commentary and Sony Ten 3 and Sony 3 HD in Hindi Commentary.

Switzerland vs Costa Rica and Serbia vs Brazil will be available for live streaming on Sony Liv also. And Both Airtel and Jio would broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2018 matches for free to their respective subscribers.

Brazil's squad:

Goalkeepers: Alisson , Cassio , Ederson

Defenders: Danilo , Fagner , Marcelo, Filipe Luis, Miranda, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva , Geromel

Midfielders: Casemiro, Fernandinho , Paulinho , Renato Augusto , Fred , Philippe Coutinho , Willian

Forwards: Neymar , Gabriel Jesus , Roberto Firmino , Douglas Costa , Taison

Serbia's squad: 
 

Goalkeepers: Stojkovic, Rajkovic, Damitrovic

Defenders: Rukavina, Tosic, Spajic, Ivanovi, Kolarov, Veljkovic, Rodic, Milenkovic, MiAlivojevic,

Midfielders: Zivkovic, Tadic, Grujic, Kostic, Sergej, Matic, Ljajic

Forwards: Prijovic, Mitrovic, Radonjic, Jovic, Mladen Krstajic.