Brazil are fighting their way to the round of 16 without Neymar

Status: 11/28/2022 6:53 p.m

Superstar Neymar is injured in bed, Brazil is still in the round of 16. The South Americans are too harmless against Switzerland for a long time, then Casemiro ensures salvation.

Without superstar Neymar, Brazil advanced early to the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar on Monday (November 28th, 2022). Coach Tite’s team struggled against Switzerland until the final phase, but a late goal from Casemiro (83rd) made the 1-0 (0-0) victory perfect. The Selecao is thus at the top of Group G with six points, while Switzerland, in second place with three points, also has a good chance of progressing to the next round.

  • Live ticker to read – Brazil against Switzerland
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  • World Cup preliminary round, Group G
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Fred replaces Neymar, Switzerland without Shaqiri

The big topic before the game was the injury of Brazil’s superstar Neymar. The 30-year-old, who definitely wants to crown his probably last World Cup with the title, had not even traveled to the stadium and followed the game from the hotel bed with a thickly bandaged ankle. His place in the team was taken by Manchester United’s Fred, with Eder Militao replacing Danilo, who was also injured. Xherdan Shaqiri surprisingly rotated out of the starting XI for the Swiss.

Brazil harmless without Neymar

And the absence of Neymar was definitely noticeable in the Selecao. The Brazilians, who played in a slightly different basic formation without a playmaker in the absence of their ten, determined the action. But there weren’t any big flashes of inspiration in the first round.

West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta showed his class with two beautiful but ultimately unsuccessful passes to Richarlison (12’/19′). Real Madrid’s Vini Junior was denied by Swiss keeper Yann Sommer after a nice cross from Raphinha from close range, Raphinha also tried a long-range shot (31′). The Confederates, who rarely if ever made their way to the Brazilian goal, defended the rest cleanly. Neither team took the big risk.

Goal from Vini Junior is conceded

After the change of sides, the Swiss initially dared to come out a little more from cover and also took part in the game with the offensive. After a strong cross from Granit Xhaka, Silvan Widmer from Mainz suddenly appeared free in the penalty area. However, since his cross (53′) missed the target just like a cross from Vini Junior with an outside instep on the other side (57′), the quality of the game remained manageable.

The Brazilians then had bad luck with the supposed opening goal by Vini Junior (64th), which was withdrawn after VAR intervention because Richarlison was offside when the goal was created. Not directly recognizable, but ultimately completely correct.

Casemiro makes Brazil cheer

In the closing stages, the Brazilians increased the pressure noticeably and were rewarded for it. Casemiro, who has been playing for Manchester United since this season, plucked up courage after good preliminary work from Vini Junior and Rodrygo and delivered the lucky punch with a powerful shot from around twelve meters.

Brazil struggled a lot without Neymar and fought hard for the three points. Ultimately, however, the victory was deserved. The South Americans face Cameroon on the final day of the game. Switzerland meets Serbia.

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