The 30-year-old Neymar arrived at his third World Cup as Brazil’s primary attraction. He helped the Selecao win the 2013 Confederations Cup and its first Olympic gold medal on the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Video games, however has but to win a serious title with the nationwide workforce.
Brazil, making an attempt to win their first World Cup in 20 years, are unbeaten in its final 20 opening video games, with 17 victories. They’ve completed first of their group on the final 10 World Cups.
Brazil and Serbia additionally performed within the group stage in 2018, with Brazil additionally profitable 2-0 to achieve the subsequent stage at Serbia’s expense.
Earlier in Group G, Switzerland edged previous Cameroon 1-0 courtesy of a purpose in opposition to the run of play by Cameroon-born Breel Embolo on Thursday for a gap win.
Embolo, born in Yaounde however raised in Basel, struck three minutes after the restart from a Xherdan Shaqiri cutback to place them high of the part.
The 25-year-old refused to have a good time the purpose because the small group of Swiss followers cheered wildly at Al Janoub Stadium.
The Swiss purpose got here after Cameroon, with no win within the World Cup for 20 years, had dominated the primary half, lacking a number of good possibilities to take the lead.
The Indomitable Lions, who eradicated Algeria in a play-off to qualify for the match, had outplayed the Swiss within the first 45 minutes with fast combos, velocity and energy as their opponents remained toothless up entrance.
They carved out their first likelihood after 10 minutes with Bryan Mbeumo testing goalkeeper Yann Sommer earlier than Karl Toko Ekambi despatched his rebound over the bar.
The Swiss have been in bother once more somewhat later with in-form ahead Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting snatching the ball from an opponent to cost into the field, just for Sommer to dam his effort.
Looking for their first win at a World Cup in 20 years, Cameroon have been bolder, taking over their opponents in one-on-one conditions, whereas the Swiss not often managed to get into their opponents’ field.
Switzerland, who reached the spherical of 16 within the two earlier World Cups, struck at the beginning of the second half with Xherdan Shaqiri chopping into the field and Embolo tapping in what proved to be the winner.
An nearly an identical transfer simply previous the hour nearly noticed the Swiss rating once more however Ruben Vargas’s shot was pushed broad by keeper Andre Onana, who saved his workforce within the sport.
The Swiss now play Brazil on Monday, with Cameroon taking over Serbia.
Uruguay draw with South Korea
Uruguay faltered of their World Cup opener in opposition to a energetic and energetic South Korea after they have been held to a 0-0 attract Group H.
Clear-cut possibilities have been uncommon for both aspect on the Schooling Metropolis Stadium and though Uruguay created extra goalscoring alternatives, neither workforce have been in a position to register a shot on course.
Uruguay captain Diego Godin was denied by the woodwork whereas South Korea ahead Hwang Ui-jo blasted over the bar, leaving each groups to rue missed possibilities.
Uruguay’s first sight of purpose got here within the nineteenth minute by Federico Valverde, who related with Jose Maria Gimenez’s go and took a contact earlier than firing a half-volley in direction of purpose, however his bold try went simply over the bar.
The South Individuals had begun to seek out their footing when South Korea, having been affected person to this point, disrupted their rhythm and launched a counter-attack from a Uruguay nook earlier than the half-hour mark.
Son Heung-min picked up the ball on the left flank and reduce inside, skipping previous two Uruguay defenders earlier than curling a right-footed effort in direction of purpose, however left again Mathias Olivera was in a position to clear it away.
South Korea ought to have taken the lead within the thirty fourth minute when Moon-hwan Kim fizzed the ball into the penalty space and into the trail of Hwang in entrance of purpose, however the ahead couldn’t preserve his composure and despatched it over the crossbar.
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The closest Uruguay got here to scoring within the first half was simply earlier than the break, when centre again Godin rose highest to energy a header from Valverde’s nook, but it surely bounced off the left publish and away from purpose.
Gimenez made a vital sort out to disclaim Son 5 minutes after the restart after a flowing transfer from South Korea, whereas Jung Woo-young blocked midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur’s highly effective strike on the different finish.
Uruguay noticed extra of the ball however discovered few possibilities to interrupt by the South Korean defence till the closing levels, when Valverde unleashed a thunderbolt within the last minute of regulation time that struck the highest of the publish.
AP/Reuters