World Cup 2018, Brazil 1-1 Switzerland: Player Ratings

Another World Cup favourite were denied all three points in the first round of the group stage fixtures as Switzerland came from 1-0 down to finish the game 1-1.

Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring for Brazil with a wonderfully executed long-range goal and Brazil maintained the advantage going into half-time.

However, the Swiss equalized early in the second half from a corner through Steven Zuber. Brazil strived hard to find a winning goal but they couldn't find a way past a resilient Switzerland defence.

This was the second match of Group E at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and it leaves both Brazil and Switzerland behind Serbia who won their opening match against Costa Rica. Brazil play Costa Rica in their next game and Switzerland take-on Serbia.

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Brazil

Coutinho produced a trademark goal to open proceedings

Alisson - 6/10

The Roma shot-stopper didn’t have to make a save in the first half but demonstrated his calm ball playing ability on a couple of occasions. He remained relatively untested in the second half also despite some pressure from the Swiss attack.

Danilo - 6/10

Solid defensively and cautious while going forward. However, he did link up well with Willian down the right-hand side. He had a good chance to cross the ball to Jesus in the box early in the first half but his cross came off a Swiss defender.

Thiago Silva - 6/10

Although Silva doesn’t wear the armband anymore, his leadership skills kept things tight at the back. The PSG man had the chance to double the lead at the end of the first half but his effort flew over the bar.

Miranda - 5/10

The Inter Milan defender played some excellent passes to his midfielders and defended well in open play. However, he didn’t pick up Steven Zuber behind him for the Switzerland equalizer.

Marcelo - 7/10

He started the game in his typical explosive manner by making runs down the left wing and putting in crosses. Once Brazil was in the lead, he was more conservative and kept the dangerous Shaqiri in check. However, when Brazil went in search of a winning goal, he couldn't make much of a difference.

Casemiro - 7/10

Casemiro’s positional sense and combative nature made it difficult for Switzerland to pass through the middle. He went toe to toe with the Swizz midfielders and forced them wide. He was booked early in the second half and was taken off at the half an hour mark for Fernandinho.

Paulinho - 6/10

He nearly opened the scoring early in the game but was denied by a brilliant save from Sommer. The Barcelona man made some good runs forward and also worked in tandem with Casemiro to close down the space in the middle. He proved ineffective as the game went on and was unsurprisingly taken off for Renato Augusto.

Philippe Coutinho - 8/10

It was a pleasure watching Coutinho linkup with Neymar and Marcelo down the left wing. He opened the scoring with a brilliant, yet typical, Coutinho curler from outside the box. The former Liverpool man constantly found pockets of space when others failed to.

Willian - 7/10

Willian looked the more threatening winger for Brazil in the first half. His dribbling and silky feet often bamboozled the Swiss defenders. In addition, he tracked back well and provided cover for Danilo to keep Ricardo Rodriguez in check.

Gabriel Jesus - 5/10

Jesus made a couple of good runs into the box, but he was dispossessed easily. He also went down easily in the second half in search of a penalty. Jesus needs to up his game with Roberto Firmino waiting for his chance.

Neymar - 7/10

The world’s most expensive player didn’t look his usual best and often found two or three players around him whenever he had the ball. He drew as many as 10 fouls and had a couple of half-chances to score.

Substitutes

Fernandinho - 6/10

Came on for Casemiro early at the half an hour mark and covered for the full-backs when Brazil went in search of a winning goal.

Renato Augusto - 6/10

He was forced out wide a couple of times because Switzerland packed the middle of the field. Had a decent chance which he at least got on target.

Roberto Firmino - 6/10

He looked very lively when he came on for Jesus late in the game and his header from a Neymar free-kick forced a terrific save from Sommer. There is a chance he could be starting the next game.

Switzerland

Switzerland produced another upset in the opening game of a FIFA World Cup

Yann Sommer - 8/10

He made one brilliant save to deny Paulinho from close range. So brilliant that everyone including the referee failed to notice it and gave a goal kick. Although he could do nothing about Coutinho's goal, he pulled off a couple more important saves in the second half to keep the score 1-1.

Stephan Lichtsteiner - 5/10

Had some trouble dealing with the attacking threat down Brazil's left and was booked for a cynical foul on Neymar. Was taken off late in the game for Michael Lang.

Fabian Schar - 7/10

He came out of his line to help his midfielders close down Neymar and Jesus when they threatened and his aerial prowess helped Switzerland deal with Brazil corners. Most importantly, he made a goalline clearance in the dying minutes of the game.

Manuel Akanji - 7/10

The young Borussia Dortmund defender showed immense composure on the ball and found his midfielders well. He defended well throughout the game although there were appeals against him for a penalty. He is one player to watch out.

Ricardo Rodriguez - 6/10

Rodriguez tried to offer a lot more attacking threat from the left wing but he found very little space with Willian tracking back to support Danilo. That being said, the Milan defender did well to deal with the Chelsea winger after Willian proved a handful in the initial exchanges.

Granit Xhaka - 6/10

Xhaka was a booking waiting to happen but surprisingly he evaded one. He played a couple of beautiful crossfield passes to bypass the Brazilian midfield and also covered his defenders well when Brazil mounted the pressure.

Valon Behrami - 8/10

What a game this man had. He tried his best to be available for a pass whenever his team was in possession and covered for his full-backs when they went up the field. He tackled well and also committed fouls smartly to break up play. His constant battles with Neymar eventually won him a yellow card and was soon taken off for Denis Zakaria.

Xherdan Shaqiri - 7/10

As expected, Shaqiri was Switzerland’s major attacking outlet. However, he also did well to help Lichtsteiner out after realizing that his captain needed more support. Switzerland's goal came from his corner.

Blerim Dzemaili - 6/10

The veteran played furthest forward among the midfielders. His attacking contribution was questionable, but he helped close down space in midfield as Brazil struggled to open play.

Steven Zuber - 7/10

In open play, Zuber’s contribution going forward was very little as much of Switzerland’s attack was down the right-hand side through Shaqiri. However, he did get the all-important equalizer in the second half with a header from a corner.

Haris Seferovic - 5/10

Seferovic struggled to hold up the ball and bring his teammates into play early in the game. He even failed to control a simple pass from Shaqiri in a promising attacking area. He got better in the second half but was taken off for Breel Embolo towards the end.

Substitutes -

Denis Zakaria - 6/10

Was subbed in after Behrami picked up a yellow card. The Gladbach man did well filling in for Behrami but gave away a needless free-kick towards the end which nearly proved costly.

Breel Embolo - N/A

He had very little time to make any real impact but he had the opportunity to run at the Brazil defence in a counter-attacking situation before being dispossessed by Miranda.

Michael Lang - N/A

Came on as a like for like replacement for the Swiss captain towards the end of the game and did well against Neymar.