“Brazil put down the largest marker on the World Cup”

Host nation: Qatar Date: November 20-December 18 Reporting: Dwell on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Dwell, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and BBC Sport web site and app. Day-to-day TV listings – Full protection particulars

Brazil coach Tite did not produce the smoothest dance strikes of the night time, however the sight of the sober-drained elder statesman swaying his gamers on the sidelines of this soccer carnival.

And what a second it was that impressed Tite, 61, to let all of it hang around as Brazil produced one of the best soccer of the match in a 4-1 win that had their standing as World Cup favorites stamped all through.

Richarlison had simply made his second foray into the best goalscoring showreel in Qatar, delivering Brazil’s third after simply 29 minutes of a primary half that may stay lengthy within the reminiscence.

It was a marvel of pin-point passing across the fringe of the world.

The Tottenham striker juggled the ball on his head thrice and as soon as along with his foot, earlier than handing it off to Marquinhos.

He delivered to Thiago Silva and his first cross put Richarlison on the run to offer the transfer the end it deserved previous South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu.

If Richarlison’s acrobatic bicycle kick towards Serbia was magical, this may occasionally solely have topped it with a wonderful mixture of particular person brilliance and passing perfection.

It was, like just about all of Brazil’s soccer within the first half, poetry in movement. It mentioned: “We’re right here. Are you able to cease us?”

All this and the return of Neymar too.

Brazil could not be in higher type going into the final eight regardless of the lack of Gabriel Jesus and Alex Telles to damage.

Neymar starred in his comeback from an ankle downside, however he needed to share prime billing right here along with his attacking team-mates Richarlison and Vinicius Junior.

Vinicius confirmed his class to place Brazil forward after simply seven minutes, after which Neymar got here into motion from the spot, though his ‘Riverdance’ footwork in his stuttering method embellished the penalty unnecessarily. That leaves him one behind Pele’s all-time document of 77 targets for his nation.

West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta slotted house a luxurious fourth from Vinicius’ cross earlier than half-time, permitting Brazil from then on to preserve vitality for Croatia.

Brazil have eased into this World Cup, even dropping to Cameroon within the group stage, however the first 45 minutes had been an excellent show of a group at full energy, sending a message to their rivals about what they would want to match – a minimum of – to win the trophy .

This wasn’t only a efficiency – it was an outpouring of Brazil’s pleasure. Soccer like that is their nationwide emblem.

It even allowed Brazil to offer their excellent goalkeeper Alisson 10 minutes off as Tite despatched on third-choice Weverton to get into the sport. It meant Brazil turned the primary group to make use of all 26 gamers at this World Cup.

And it even allowed Dad to bounce from his veteran coach, though the rehearsed post-goal dance strikes went on for therefore lengthy that many observers questioned whether or not they had been a present of disrespect for his or her opponents.

The opposing view is that Brazil performed with such freedom of expression, within the very most interesting traditions of their nation, that their elation was fully pure.

Whether or not it was the nook flag or Tite, Brazil’s gamers had been so locked into their very own elation that they had been completely satisfied to take something as a dance associate.

Neymar’s presence spurred their early work, teammates searching for the returning celebrity. He received 81 minutes within the tank earlier than being changed by Rodrygo.

By scoring on the spot, Neymar turned solely the third Brazilian to attain in a minimum of three World Cups – in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Pele scored 4 targets, in 1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970, and Ronaldo in three – in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

Simply so as to add to the impression that Brazil have the strongest all-round squad in Qatar, Allison confirmed why he is without doubt one of the world’s elite goalkeepers with a string of tremendous saves as they eased up within the second half.

It is a scary prospect for Croatia and anybody else they could meet out right here. Brazil have the attacking firepower to beat anybody and in case you handle to get via on the different finish, Liverpool’s excellent goalkeeping is a formidable barrier.

Tite’s group seems to be the entire bundle.

Brazil are of their eighth consecutive World Cup quarter-final and devoted this efficiency to Pele, who’s in hospitalafter they paraded a large banner on the ultimate whistle bearing the 82-year-old’s title.

Pele could have appreciated the gesture and he would little doubt have nodded in approval at Brazil’s efficiency, the largest assertion by any nation to date at this World Cup.

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