'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Brazil comfortably beat Mexico 2-0 in their World Cup Round of 16 encounter at the Samara Arena to qualify for the quarter-final. Second half goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino were enough for Tite's side to seal their place in the last eight.
Although Mexico started the game strong, they simply did not do enough to trouble Alisson in Brazil's goal. They had just one shot on target compared to Brail's 10.
Here are the major talking points from the game.
#1 Mexico target Brazil's full-backs right from kickoff
It was Mexico that started the game on the front foot with wave after wave of attack once the game kicked off. Carlos Vela and Hirving Lozano constantly drifted wide to put pressure on the full-backs.
Without Danilo and Marcelo in the starting lineup, Brazil had Fagner at right-back and Filipe Luis at left-back. Mexico had clearly identified them as the weakest players in the lineup and kept using the wide channels to advance the ball forward.
Fagner had a tough time containing Vela with Javier Hernandez also moving to the left to combine with Vela. And when Brazil overloaded that flank to cramp Mexico for space, they sent cross-field diagonal passes to Lozano on the right.
Mexico had three shots in the first 20 minutes alone and it took some last-ditch defending from the defenders to block any shots on goal. However, Mexico's gameplan was clear as they hustled for every ball and poured forward in numbers to dominate the first quarter of the match.
"We never give up on attacking," Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio had said yesterday. "Regardless of the structure... We will always have a line-up with five attacking players."
El Tri had 10 touches of the ball in Brazil's box in the first 20 minutes alone. Brazil? Zero. That's how much pressure Mexico had put on the Selecao. But they had no end product to show for it.
#2 Brazil struggle on the left without Marcelo's drive
With Mexico creating more chances and getting forward easily, Brazil had to improvise. Both teams played similar 4-3-3 formations but it was the Mexicans who had the measure of Tite's side at first.
So when Mexico had the ball, Willian tucked in on the right to make it a 4-4-2 with Neymar and Gabriel Jesus forming the first line of defence. It was only when Brazil won the ball back that Neymar drifted wide again.
However, without Marcelo in the lineup, Neymar struggled on the right side. Usually, Marcelo and Coutinho form triangles with Neymar but that was not the case with Filipe Luis. With both full-backs on a leash to avoid getting outnumbered on counter-attacks, Neymar had to do it all on his own.
There were a few moments of brilliance from the PSG forward when he tried to get past Mexican right-back Edson Alvarez but he was always eventually crowded out. They also looked to foul Neymar when he had the ball, a strategy Tite was not at all impressed with as he gesticulated on the sidelines.
Brazil created a few chances - especially from distance - but goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was up to the task in the first half making numerous saves to remind fans of that 2014 encounter where Brazil were held to a 0-0 draw thanks to his heroics.
#3 Neymar weaves his magic to give Brazil the lead
All it took was six minutes for Mexico to go 1-0 down in the second half. And it was all thanks to Neymar's brilliance and teamwork with Willian that Brazil scored a fantastic goal.
Willian and Neymar had struggled to make inroads into Mexico's final third when they were out wide in the first half. So they did the next best thing. Cut in. Together.
After receiving the ball from Philippe Coutinho, Neymar made a lateral run with the ball (outside the box) and Mexico panicked. He dragged as many as five defenders out of position and this is where Willian made his run.
Although Coutinho was in a position to receive the ball and shoot, Neymar's back-heel was picked up by Willian who had made his way to the left. One dribble was all he needed to get into the box.
This is where Mexico panicked again and lost sight of Neymar. As all eyes moved to Willian, Neymar sneaked in behind Gabriel Jesus and made his run. All Willian had to do was cross the ball in for the tap-in.
The second goal also saw him scamper forward on the counter-attack past Mexicans who had poured forward and his delightful stab of the ball eventually found its way to Roberto Firmino to make it 2-0.
#4 Mexico's lack of teamwork leads to another Round of 16 exit
After going 1-0 down in the second half, Mexico did fashion a few chances. However, their lack of understanding on the pitch - especially in the final third - saw them spurn a number of good chances to equalise.
Time and again when they counter-attacked, they were let down by the final pass - or the lack of it. The Mexican players either tried to do it all by themselves or played the wrong pass.
Their teammates were also furious at times when they did not receive a pass. With half the team bleaching their hair, one can only wonder why they didn't spot their teammates sooner.
Even the delayed passes allowed Brazil to get back on defence and set their defensive lines in order to prevent Mexico from taking shots.
A frustrated Carlos Vela - who hadn't received the ball in time - had even let fly from distance with no other go. And that shot turned out to be their only shot on target.
When will Mexico ever reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup again?
#5 Brazil need to work on their midfield before the quarter-final
Although Brazil comfortably won the game in the end, their lack of drive from midfield will see Tite ponder over what to do in the next game.
Paulinho, who has put in very good performances for Brazil so far, sadly had an off-day today against Mexico. It may not be entirely his fault, though.
The Barcelona midfielder may have been asked to hang back instead of making his trademark runs into the box and that saw Brazil struggle at times when Mexico were vulnerable on the counter-attack.
Brazil may have done that to avoid being hit on the counter-attack themselves but with one full-back always sitting back Paulinho did have his chances to get into the box.
On the other hand, they will now be without Casemiro after he picked up a second yellow card. Bookings are only reset after the quarter-final so the Selecao will have to play Fernandinho alongside Paulinho in midfield against Belgium or Japan.
Nevertheless, for now, Brazil will celebrate yet another entry into the quarter-finals of the World Cup and they are still one of the favourites for the trophy.
