POINTS TABLE | SCHEDULE |
VIDEOS
FT - Brazil beat Serbia 2-0 to top Group E, will face Mexico in Round of 16
Brazil comfortably reached the World Cup last 16 after Paulinho and Thiago Silva scored in each half to give them a 2-0 win over Serbia who were eliminated. The five-times world champions finished top of Group E with seven points and will face Mexico in the second round. Serbia ended in third place with three points.
90' - Three minutes added as stoppage time
89' - Substitution! Aleksandar Mitrovic is replaced by Luka Jovic for Serbia
88' - Neymar again failed to score. His shot from close range was blocked by Serbia
86' - SAVE! Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic denied Neymar with a one-hand clearance
83' - Chance! This time Neymar's shot, from the top of the box, went tantalisingly over the Serbia crossbar
82' - Substitution! Filip Kostic is replaced by Nemanja Radonjic
80' - Substitution! Philippe Coutinho is replaced by Renato Augusto for Brazil
75' - Substitution! Adam Ljajic is replaced by Andrija Zivkovic for Serbia
72' - SAVE! Filipe Luis' long ranger was palmed away by Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic
70' - Yellow Card! Booking for Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrovic
68' - GOAL! Thiago Silva doubled the lead for Brazil
Neymar curled the corner kick into the near post and Thiago Silva headed it into the net from six yards.
66' - Substitution! Paulinho is replaced by Fernandinho
65' - SAVE! Aleksandar Mitrovic's header was straight to Brazil keeper Alisson
63' - Nervy moments for Brazil defenders. Serbia stitched back-to-back attacks on Brazil goal
61' - SAVE! Brazil keeper Alisson's diving punch was headed in by Aleksandar Mitrovic. But unfortunately it hit Thiago Silva's thigh and went back to Alisson.
58' - Back-to-back three corners for Brazil. But nothing substantial came off them
57' - SAVE! Neymar's shot from the left side was palmed out by Serbian keeper Vladimir Stojkovic. Good counter run from the Brazilian forwards
56' - Corner for Serbia. Headed out easily by Jesus
55' - Serbia enjoying a stretch of dominant possession in the Brazilian half. But failed to find clear chance on goal
52' - Willian's cross-in into the Serbian box was cleared out by Serbian defender
48' - Yellow Card! Serbia's Nemanja Matic is booked for a foul on Gabriel Jesus
Second half underway...
HT - Brazil lead Serbia 1-0 at the half-time break
Paulinho gave Brazil a 1-0 halftime lead over Serbia with a superbly-taken goal. Philippe Coutinho lofted a pass forward from just inside the Serbia half and Paulinho timed his run perfectly to get between three defenders and flick the ball over goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic in the 36th minute. The five-times world champions need a draw to reach the last 16.
45+1' - Neymar tried a curler from the left flank, and it went just over the Serbian crossbar
45' - Two minutes added as stoppage time
41' - Another corner for Serbia. Easily headed out by Brazilian player
39' - Corner for Serbia. Brazil goalkeeper Alisson punched it out to safety
36' - GOAL! Paulinho put Brazil in the lead
Philippe Coutinho with a perfect pass for Paulinho, who chipped the ball over the charging Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic and gave Brazil an important lead.
34' - Aleksandar Mitrovic tried a overhead kick, but it went well over the Brazil crossbar
32' - Yellow Card! First booking of the match went to Adam Ljajic, for a late challenge on Neymar
29' - Neymar found Jesus who ran into the Serbian box with the ball, but his shot was blocked away for a corner. Nothing came out of the resultant corner though
29' - Free-kick for Brazil on their own half, for a foul on Willian by Aleksandar Kolarov
25' - SAVE! Neymar's shot from the left of the Serbian inner box was palmed away by goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic. Good one-two between Jesus and Neymar in the build-up
22' - Second corner for Serbia. Brazil goalkeeper Alisson punched it out.
20' - Corner for Brazil. Comfortably cleared by Serbia
16' - Willian shot it well over the Serbian goal from the right flank, after a good counter run by Brazil
15' - Corner for Serbia. The delivery from Aleksandar Kolarov was too high for the strikers to take advantage
12' - Brazil keeper Alisson punched away the ball to safety, a cross-in from a Serbian free-kick
10' - Substitution! Early forced change for Brazil. Injured Marcelo is replaced by Filipe Luis
7' - Serbia attack ended with a foul on Thiago Silva inside Brazil box
4' - Gabriel Jesus was caught off-side again. Attacking start from Brazil
2' - Coutinho's shot was blocked by his own teammate Jesus, who was off-side too
Here we go...
KICK-OFF TIME
*Time for National Anthems*
What the teams need to do to reach Round of 16:
* Brazil need a win or a draw
* Serbia need a win, although they could advance with a draw if Costa Rica beat Switzerland
Starting line-ups
Brazil: Alisson, Fagner, Thiago Silva, Joao Miranda (capt), Marcelo, Casemiro, Paulinho, Philippe Coutinho, Willian, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar. Coach: Tite (BRA)
Serbia: Vladimir Stojkovic, Antonio Rukavina, Aleksandar Kolarov (capt), Milos Veljkovic, Nikola Milenkovic, Dusan Tadic, Filip Kostic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Nemanja Matic, Adam Ljajic, Aleksandar Mitrovic. Coach: Mladen Krstajic (SRB)
Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRN)
TEAM NEWS
Brazil named an unchanged line-up for their World Cup Group E match against Serbia while their opponents made three changes to the side who lost 1-2 to Switzerland.
Gabriel Jesus was again preferred in Brazil's attack to Roberto Firmino while Willian kept his place on the right of midfield. Brazil coach Tite rotates the captaincy and this time the armband was given to central defender Miranda. Serbia brought in 34-year-old right back Antonio Rukavina, defender Milos Veljkovic and forward Adem Ljajic in their bid to upset the South Americans.
Serbia, on three points, face the huge task of needing to beat five-times champions Brazil to qualify for the last 16, as a draw would leave them relying on Costa Rica to comfortably beat Switzerland. Brazil, with four points, will be certain to progress with a draw.
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Group E match between Serbia and Brazil. The match starts at 23:30 IST.
(Reuters Photo)