Brazil joins elites off to slow start

Rostov-On-Don, Russia

Brazil joined the list of big teams struggling to win their opening matches at the World Cup in Russia.

The five-time champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland on Sunday, a few hours after four-time champion Germany was beaten by Mexico 1-0.

Philippe Coutinho gave Brazil the lead in the 20th minute with a volley that bounced in off the right post. Steven Zuber then headed in the equalizer in the 50th.

Besides Brazil and Germany, Argentina was held to a 1-1 draw by Iceland on Saturday and Spain and Portugal played to a 3-3 draw on Friday.

Serbia 1, Costa Rica 0: Aleksandar Kolarov scored from a left-footed free kick in the 56th minute and Serbia opened its World Cup with a victory over Costa Rica. After David Guzman was handed a yellow card, Kolarov curled the ensuing free kick over the wall. Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who plays for Real Madrid, couldn't reach it. Serbia, which missed out on the 2014 tournament, had the early advantage in a tough group that includes five-time champion Brazil and Switzerland. After a scoreless first half, Navas fought off a barrage of challenges to open the second with the boisterous Costa Rican fans cheering him on at Samara Arena. The final moments of the match were marked by a squabble on the sidelines as Serbia's Nemanja Matic got into a tussle with a Costa Rican coach. Players from both teams rushed toward the scrum but it was quickly diffused. Serbia's Branislav Ivanovic made his record 104th appearance for the national team, surpassing Dejan Stankovic's mark. Koralov dedicated both the win and his goal to Goran Bunjevcevic, sporting director of the Serbian federation, who had a stroke last month and required emergency surgery.

Maradona racism alleged: Diego Maradona gave his version of an exchange with an Asian fan that witnesses perceived as racist. British television staff working in Spartak Stadium in Moscow during Argentina's 1-1 draw with Iceland on Saturday reported seeing Maradona respond to South Korea fans calling his name. On Twitter, BBC presenter Jacqui Oatley posted that Maradona "obliged with a smile, kiss and wave. Then pulled his eyes to the side in a clearly racist gesture." The Argentina great replied by saying he saw "an Asian boy wearing an Argentina T-shirt." He adds: "I, from afar, tried to tell them how nice it seemed to me that even the Asians cheer for us. And that's all, guys, come on."

Spying squabble: Sweden coach Janne Andersson says one of his staff got into a closed South Korea training session and was asked to leave, leading to a squabble between the teams over spying ahead of their World Cup game on Monday. Andersson says the staffer, who is entrusted with scouting the opposition, thought the practice session at South Korea's pre-World Cup training camp in Austria was open. Andersson says the coach left when asked and "watched from more of a distance." The South Koreans responded by swapping players' numbers around to confuse the Swedish "spy" because, in the words of coach Shin Tae-yong, "it's very difficult for westerners to distinguish between Asians."

Mexico fans use slur: Mexican fans chanted a homophobic slur at Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during the World Cup game in Moscow. FIFA has repeatedly fined the Mexican football federation over the chant. Fans in Mexico use the chant to insult opposing goalkeepers as they take a goal kick. FIFA says it is investigating the incident.

Dedicated Colombia fan: A Colombia fan cycled alone for more than 3,100 miles across seven European countries to reach Russia to watch his national team play in the World Cup. The 43-year-old Daniel Quiroga started out in Portugal and went through Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia before making it to Russia.

Award rejected: Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Elshenawy declined to receive a player of the match trophy at the World Cup for religious reasons. The trophy is sponsored by Budweiser. Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol.