'%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)
SCORE: Brazil (Paulinho 36'; Silva 68') 2-0 Serbia
The big boys have all struggled to settle into life in Russia in the group stages with the defending champions, and one of the favourites this time around as well, making an early exit. Portugal and Argentina, even Spain for that matter, squeezed past the tough competition posed by the minnows in this World Cup.
Brazil, too, got off to a nervy start - drawing their opener with Switzerland, followed by the stoppage-time victory over Costa Rica. Those vital three points put them in charge of their own fate with the final group stage fixture against Serbia to play.
Tite's men managed to get the job done with some room to spare against the Serbs and made sure of top spot in Group E and, as a result, will now face an impressive Mexico unit in the Round of Sixteen.
Two goals from Paulinho and Thiago Silva sealed the points and the fate of Serbia - who bow out of the competition. Here are 3 reasons why:
#3 Paulinho's lung-bursting tendencies
Not so long ago, the Brazilian was shoved into oblivion after a horrendous spell in London with Tottenham. Eyebrows were raised in Catalonia when Paulinho was brought in from China to add some rigidity to the slacking Barcelona midfield.
Not only did he add bite to the side, he also made his presence in the opposition penalty area felt with intelligently-timed runs into the box, getting on the end of crosses, and calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net.
This lead him to score 9 vital league goals last season for Barcelona. Not bad for someone who is expected to disrupt the opposition's play.
His desire to make those runs and finish off moves was at display for his national side tonight as he darted through the heart of the defence; Coutinho picking the eye of the needle. A deft touch to take it in his stride and then the delicate lob over the keeper to give Brazil the lead and the pressure was off.
#2 Absorbed the Serbian pressure well
Serbia had nothing to lose, especially after going a goal down towards the end of the first half. They came out all guns blazing and took the game to Brazil. They slowly got into the game in the second period and looked to lay siege on Allison's goal. Despite the lack of attacking flair, the Serbs bullied their way into the opposition half and set up camp.
Brazil were on the back foot for the most of the opening quarter of an hour in the second half, but Serbia really put the hammer down for about 8 minutes after the 60-minute mark. They came terribly close on a couple of occasions but the central defensive partnership of Thiago Silva and Miranda put themselves about and forced the attackers into errors or made life difficult for them at the crucial moments.
With the competition and attacking talent only set to get better in the latter stages of the competition, Tite will be delighted at the way his team has managed to hold firm through periods of the game when the opposition is on top. Just the solitary goal conceded in three games so far is something to build on, defensively, for Brazil.
#1 Killed the game off when Serbia were threatening the most
After weathering the Serbian storm in the opening exchanges of the second half, Brazil knocked the stuffing out of the opposition with a sucker-punch from a set-piece. Neymar was happy to release some of the pressure that was building on his defence by winning a corner. Brazil slowed the game down for a bit and sent in reinforcements for Neymar's delivery.
The PSG talisman whipped in a wonderful delivery, asking for someone to go and head it into the back of the net. His club teammate, Thiago Silva, insisted on thumping it into the back of the net instead. You could sense the wind being knocked out of Serbia's sails.
As long as it was 1-0, Serbia were always in with a chance and threatened to restore parity after the restart. But the way the Brazilians killed the game off, picking the perfect moment to do so, meant that they could play out the rest of the game at walking pace. And that's exactly what they did for the remaining 20 minutes or so.
