'%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)
Despite several people predicting (hoping, to be honest) that Brazil would be the next high-profile victim of the tournament, they advanced to the next round courtesy of a calm and comfortable 2-0 win against Mexico.
Mexico bravely managed to keep the Brazilians off the scoreboard till the first half, but two second-half goals - one each from Neymar and Firmino was enough to take the game away from them. Mexico played a brave game but did not have the quality in the final third to make life difficult for Brazil.
Brazil will no face either Belgium or Japan in the quarter-finals and will be hoping it is the latter. Here are 3 major takeaways from the game:
#1 Willian's timely arrival to form
Willian had blown hot and cold in the group stage, and after a fantastic season with Chelsea, it looked like the midfielder might get taken off the starting XI. His replacement - Douglas Costa came on against Costa Rica and impressed mightily, but an untimely injury to him have Willian one more chance to prove his worth.
It is safe to say that Willian has taken the shot and come out of the other end on his feet. He was, by a long distance, the best player on the field and his inspired performance in the face of strong opposition was what led to the first goal.
He was also a force to be reckoned on the right wing, and his increased impetus to run forward proved to a great boost for the team. It also meant that Coutinho could orchestrate proceedings from the back, instead of leaving the midfield exposed.
He completed 7 dribbles during the match and completed 31 out of 38 passes including 3 key passes. His two shots on target - one of them a weak attempt after a great run, were saved by Ochoa. Another aspect of his game was using his body to shield the ball from the Mexicans during his runs, instead of letting the ball get too far away from him.
#2 Time to start Roberto Firmino
After yet another average outing for Gabriel Jesus, it is time for Brazil to a gem that is being wasted in their bench - Liverpool's very own Roberto Firmino. As if to enunciate the same fact to his coach, Firmino got a goal in the dying minutes to score Brazil's second of the night.
Gabriel Jesus is an excellent finisher and a sharp striker, but he doesn't offer much when it comes to the build-up of play. Very often, he remains a static figure in the box and is mostly used as a decoy by Neymar to take out defenders.
He could have gotten a touch on Willian's ball that led to Neymar's goal, but that has been the case for Jesus so far - so near, but not quite there. After 4 mediocre games in front of the opposition goal, it is high time Firmino gets a look into the team.
Firmino has, time and again, shown how valuable he is to the Liverpool set-up, and considering the attacking force Brazil have with them, he has a much more chance of shining by playing as a false 9.
#3 Coutinho's role as a Regista
Technically, Coutinho didn't play as the regista but as the left midfielder, but he was way more concerned with operating things from the back. To accommodate Neymar on the left, Coutinho had to move a little to the centre, and seeing as Paulinho likes to come forward, he dropped almost to a false-Regista role.
The thing is, Coutinho is not utilised to his maximum when he plays so far from the back. Remember when De Bruyne played a few matches as the Regista at the beginning of last season for City? Like De Bruyne, Coutinho is much useful to the team when he is in the thick of things.
It is understandable what Tite is trying here - Coutinho prefers the central position and he plays behind Jesus and Neymar, with Paulinho roaming the box looking for rebounds. But with Casemiro out for the next match (suspension because of a yellow card), will he opt for Fernandinho as a like-for-like replacement?
The alternative is to switch from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3, with Firmino, Neymar and Coutinho as the front three, and a midfield trio of Paulinho, Fernandinho and Willian. If they have to face Belgium, it will be interesting to see if Coutinho will be used as a pseudo-forward for his skill, or as a deep-lying playmaker for his creativity.
Do you think Brazil will win the World Cup? Sound off in the comments below!
