FIFA World Cup 2018 Brazil vs Switzerland highlights: SUI hold BRA 1-1

A second-half header from Steven Zuber cancelled out a sensational early goal from Philippe Coutinho as Switzerland and Brazil drew 1-1 in a tight Group E World Cup opener on Sunday. With 20 minutes gone, Coutinho gathered a clearance 25 yards from goal and curled a marvellous shot into the far corner off the post to give the five-times world champions the lead. However, Switzerland, who had looked toothless throughout the first half, got back on level terms five minutes into the second period when Zuber rose unmarked to head home a corner kick. Coutinho had Brazil’s best chance after the break but shot wide. The result means that Serbia lead Group E after beating Costa Rica 1-0 earlier in the day. Get full score of Brazil vs Switzerland, FIFA World Cup 2018 here.

01:33 hrs IST: After a day of upsets, the world Cup will see Group F game between Sweden and South Korea and Group G games between Belgium-Panama, England-Tunisia on Monday. Do join us for live updates tomorrow! Till then goodbye.

01:24 hrs IST: That’s it! Brazil held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland. After Germany and Argentina another ‘big team’ fails to get off to a flier.

01:19 hrs IST: Fernandinho misses a rebound and then Miranda shoots wide. Brazil attack is misfiring at the end.

01:16 hrs IST: Neymar, oh Neymar! The Brazilian shoots the ball directly in the hands of the Swiss Goalkeeper.

01:13 hrs IST: An attack builds up for Brazil from the left. But no! Neymar can’t get past the crowd of legs.

01:06 hrs IST: Only 10 minutes left in the game

01:03 hrs IST: Brazil have 54 per cent possession. They have been kept in check by Switzerland after the equaliser by Zuber.

01:01 hrs IST: Gabriel Jesus is lying in the box, he is furious. He is almost sure that Manuel Akanji fouled but referee is not interested.

00:58 hrs IST: Behrami gets replaced by Zakaria. And Seferovic is on the ground. It is somehow turning out to be a rough game.

00:56 hrs IST: Valon Behrami gets a yellow card in the 68th minute. That’s the third yellow card for a Swiss player today.

00:53 hrs IST: After the equaliser, Brazil look to be in a bit of disarray. The constant marking of Neymar has negated their sting somehow. On the 65th minute, Neymar takes a free-kick but it’s a poor one.

00:46 hrs IST: Neymar can be seen limping here. He has been targeted regularly by the Swiss players. Brazil need him today, if they are to fetch a win here.

00:40 hrs IST: GOAL!!!! Zuber equalises for Switzerland in the 50th minute.

Against the run of the Swiss No. 14 scores from in side the box. He was unmarked as he headed past Alisson off a corner from Shaqiri.

00:36 hrs IST: Gabriel Jesus comes close to Swiss goal yet another time. This is just the first match but it is safe to say that they have done justice to their attacking reputation

00:33 hrs IST: The teams are out on the field for the second-half action. Brazil would hope to maintain their dominating show.

00:19 hrs IST: It’s half-time! And Brazil lead Switzerland 1-0

00:16 hrs IST: CLOSE! Thiago’s header off a corner goes over the ear

00:12 hrs IST: Brazil players are controlling the mid-field now. but they are losing too many balls while going on the offensive.

00:09 hrs IST: Thiago Silva gets hit on the ear by a powerful shot by Steven Zuber. He looks to be in pain.

00:03 hrs IST: The Brazilian attack is slowly adding for spice. Now Gabriel Jesus goes perilously close but doesn’t get the goal.

00:00 hrs IST: Neymar falls on the ground after he is fouled by Lichsteiner. He gets a free-kick.

23:55 hrs IST: Switzerland wins a corner but it is headed away by Casemiro. The goal has given the Selecaos confidence

23:50 hrs IST: GOALLLL! Philippe Coutinho scores in the 20th minute.

That was a beautiful strike from the Brazilian as his right-footer from 25 yards curled in the Swiss net.

23:45 hrs IST: Neymar takes the free-kick and he hits the wall. 15 minutes gone. No goals in sight.

23:44 hrs IST: Neymar is on the ground. He claims to have been fouled by Valon Behrami. Brazil get a free-kick.

23:41 hrs IST: Williams makes an attempt from the right and just after that Paulinho’s shot goes wide. Brazil need to shake things up here.

23:39 hrs IST: Brazil team has failed to show any substantial cohesion in the first 10 minutes. The Swiss seems to have a direction though

23:36 hrs IST: The Switzerland players are not letting any space to Neymar. They know their target area and the danger man of couse

23:33 hrs IST: Blerim Dzemaili gets a chance to put Switzerland ahead but his shot is misplaced. Switzerland has seized the early initiative here..

23:32 hrs IST: Ricardo Rodríguez (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half

23:29 hrs IST: We are minutes away from the start of the match!

23:10 hrs IST: Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic will play a 4-2-3-1 formation and has kept faith with striker Haris Seferovic even though the forward did not start a league game for Benfica in 2018, while veteran attacking midfielder Blerim Dzemaili plays ahead of Remo Freuler.

23:06 hrs IST: The world’s most expensive player had a painful end to his last appearance at a World Cup when he suffered a back injury in a quarter-final game against Colombia in 2014

23:04 hrs IST: Brazil forward Neymar will make his first competitive start since injuring his ankle and metatarsal in February after being named in coach Tite’s starting line-up for the five-times winners’ World Cup opener against Switzerland on Sunday.

23:00 hrs IST: Meanwhile, Mexico has upset Germany 1-0 in their opening World Cup game, leaving the defending champions with a tougher task to qualify for the knockout stages. | READ report here

22:55 hrs IST: As expected, Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic fielded a defensive side with Haris Seferovic as the lone striker, and formation that can provide a two-line defense in front of goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

22:50 hrs IST: Brazil coach Tite has stuck to Neymar and core players who have performed well in recent matches. Neymar and Willian will be flanking Gabriel Jesus in attack to kick off the five-time champions’ campaign in Russia.

22:45 hrs IST: The starting XIs are here

Brazil: Alisson, Danilo, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Marcelo, Casemiro, Paulinho, Philippe Coutinho, Willian, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar.

Switzerland: Yann Sommer, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fabian Schaer, Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez, Granit Xhaka, Valon Behrami, Xherdan Shaqiri, Blerim Dzemaili, Steven Zuber, Haris Seferovic.

22:40 hrs IST: Welcome to the live coverage of Brazil-Switzerland match.

They have continued that rampant form in their warm-up games and forwards Willian, Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus, Philippe Coutinho and talisman Neymar all looked in good shape in wins over Croatia and Austria.

Brazil were left humiliated by a 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals of last World Cup as tournament hosts. The rot continued with two poor displays at the 2015 Copa America and the 2016 Centenario edition which resulted in the dismissal of the defensively-minded coach Dunga.

Standing in Brazil’s way is a Switzerland side who are ranked sixth in the world after winning nine games in a row in qualifying, although many of their best players go into the tournament following dismal campaigns with their clubs.

Talismanic attacker Xherdan Shaqiri was relegated with Stoke City, Granit Xhaka had an inconsistent campaign with Arsenal while centre forward Haris Seferovic failed to start a single game in 2018 with Portuguese giants Benfica.