Barcelona boys deliver again for Brazil and other talking points from Serbia win at World Cup

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  • Pre-tournament favourites Brazil eased into World Cup 2018’s round of 16 as goals in each half from Paulinho and Thiago Silva confirmed Serbia’s elimination with a 2-0 defeat.

    Tite’s men had underwhelmed in the opening Group E-draw with Switzerland and late victory against Costa Rica, meaning they needed to avoid defeat to guarantee progression. These worries dissipated in the 36th minute when Paulinho latched onto fellow Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho’s deft pass and lobbed over advancing Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

    Serbia threatened near the hour mark, but their quest was definitively ended when centre-back Silva powerfully headed in the improved Neymar’s corner.

    The record-five-time winners topped their section and will now meet Group F-runners-up Mexico at Samara Arena on Monday.

    BRAZIL’S BARCA CONNECTION

    What is good for Barca, is good for Brazil.

    On a day when Germany – who inflicted 2014’s ruinous 7-1 semi-final humiliation (‘Mineirazo’) – were dumped out, this connection appears alive and well in Russia for the globe’s most-decorated nation.

    Coutinho got the ball rolling versus Serbia as he insouciantly found space in the midfield and clipped an incisive pass forward into space the onrushing Paulinho had eyes on. The Selecao’s marathon man – Wednesday’s match at Spartak Stadium was his 94th in the last 490 days – charged forward and did the rest.

    Brazil had lift off and security – they’ve won 10 of the 11 matches in which the 29-year-old has netted.

    Similarly, in Coutinho they have a magician competing to be the tournament’s best player. He’s been directly involved in three of Brazil’s four goals in the 2018 edition (two goals and one assist).

    During 1994 and 2002’s previous successes, Romarinho and then Rivaldo performed defining roles – both were then Barca employees.

    Never mind the endeavors in other tournaments of either future or past Camp Nou superstars, such as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Dani Alves and – after last summer’s divorce – Neymar.

    The latter mentioned continues to work off the rust accumulated during three months on the sidelines with a broken metatarsal.

    His set-up for Silva means he’s been involved in 19 goals during his last 18 caps (10 goals, nine assists).

    Even though he could not repeat his goal from the agonising Costa Rica win, a contribution versus Serbia of seven shots, four key passes and nine dribbles showed a significant uptick.

    This is a trend that must continue if a sixth World Cup is to be landed on July 15.

    First place has handed Brazil the booby prize of being on the exacting left-hand side of the draw, where a current tally of 10 previous wins contrasts to right’s one.

    The Canarinho must take flight from this point.

    SERBIA FLATTER TO DECEIVE

    After eight years away, Serbia’s World Cup adventure has ended all too soon – and with a palpable sense of regret.

    The White Eagles appeared poised to join Balkan neighbours Croatia in the ‘dark-horse category’ after they comfortably put away Costa Rica in their opener – with coveted Lazio centre midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic particularly impressive – and then took a fifth-minute lead against Switzerland. Then, it all unravelled at alarming pace.

    Their second-half surrender to the Swiss was worrying and costly. They were better against Brazil, rebounding from the concession of Paulinho’s chip to come close three times past the hour mark.

    Then Silva punished their profligacy and delivered a fatal second. All hope evaporated into the Moscow night.

    Their constituent parts now separate, leaving a number of issues to solve.

    A reality check was given to Milinkovic-Savic after the initial excitement. At the other end of the age spectrum, the Switzerland debacle should be the last Serbia sees of aged Zenit St Petersburg defender Branislav Ivanovic.

    Lingering worries about goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic came to the fore, head coach Mladen Krstajic’s inexperience showed against the Swiss and the absence through injury of Schalke centre-back Matija Nastasic became glaring.

    WILL MARCELO BE MISSED?

    It’s a dangerous time to be a Brazil full-back.

    Real Madrid’s Marcelo became the latest casualty in this problem position when substituted off in the 10th minute. The agony etched on his usually ebullient face seemed to speak of a debilitating problem, only for the Confederacao Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) to downplay a “spasm in the spine”.

    This followed veteran right-back Dani Alves’s pre-tournament crocking by a knee injury and replacement Danilo’s lingering thigh complaint that caused him to miss the last two Group E-matches.

    Yet Brazil have fielded their first-choice left-back, Marcelo, on surprisingly few occasions in recent years.

    He scored once, set-up two goals and contributed to five clean sheets during seven qualifiers. This is less than half of the 18 fixtures demanded by the CONMEBOL process.

    Atletico Madrid’s Filipe Luis lacks artistry and imagination. His tally of two La Liga assists last term represents exactly half Marcelo’s.

    But there is plenty of magic to be found elsewhere in this Brazil team. They’ve shown an ability before to move on, without Marcelo if needs be.

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