World Cup 2022: Sluggish Brazil qualified by beating Switzerland

After France, Brazil became the second team to reach the round of 16 after two games. Having beaten Switzerland (1:0) on Monday evening, Tita’s men made the necessary calculation and took the option for first place in group G. This will further strengthen France’s desire to finish it also first in its group, so as not to end up in the same part of the table , which is Seleção.

But if the latter with this qualification returned to her bus, she left a lot of doubts and questions in the trunk of the car. Without Neymar, this formation looks nothing like a bulldozer. Or who forgets to spend the second. After this sluggish match, it becomes clear that the most important person in Brazil at the moment is the team doctor responsible for deflating the PSG star’s right ankle and restoring him on two legs.

Let’s face it. After formidable matches Cameroon-Serbia (3-3) and Ghana-South Korea (3-2), the prospect of seeing Brazil develop at the 974 stadium heralded the continuation of a prosperous day. But the feeling in the break before Seleção’s performance was that before dinner they were fed peanuts and pistachios as an aperitif. What Brazil showed made you want to get out of your seat and head home. Is this a title contender? It is clear that there is Brazil with Neymar and Brazil without the capricious Parisian. Delightful and annoying.

Without him and his bruised right ankle, the Brazilian imagination and creativity would be almost nil. Neymar was not even at the stadium, and he chose to stay at the Auriver Hotel to continue his treatment. Perhaps the best technical gesture of the team. Richarlison periodically caused some concern among the Swiss rearguard. With unsuccessful control in front of the goal (13th place) or interference by Akanji in front of him (19th place). Only a crushing recovery from Vinicius with a cross from Rafinha from the right flank put Sommer to work (27th).

Shot from Casemiro

On the contrary, Nati, who sat well in his place, seemed almost surprised that he had suffered so little. It’s not even that she played it safe, a well-known feature of the Swiss Confederation. No, it’s really Brazil played badly. Moreover, for a short time the lights almost went out in the stadium. As if the spectacle didn’t deserve the light of Doha.

The package went on break in Rodrigo’s favour, but Brazil didn’t speed up and settled for a false rhythm to pack the match. Focusing on individual actions. But with an amazing cross on the outside of Vinicius’s foot, Richarlison was not big enough to get the ball to the net (56th). Then Switzerland grew bolder and almost got caught on the counter. Casemiro launches Vinicius, clearly the best player on the pitch. The Madrid player erases Elvedi and defeats Sommer (64th). With the speed with which the replacement Brazilians rush to the goalkeeper, it is not just joy that has gripped the entire team. First of all, it’s a huge relief. But after a minute, happiness becomes a smirk again. Because the goal after the intervention of VAR is canceled by Richarlison due to offside. Everything has to be done again.

The minutes go by and the tension builds. In the official gallery, the former glory trio, Cafu-Ronaldo-Roberto Carlos, is tense. But all these beautiful people will finally break free. Found by Rodrigo, Casemiro strikes from outside the right flank, to which the Swiss responded out of Sommer’s reach (1-0, 83rd). And Stadium 974, so yellow and silent from the start, finally begins to sing.