DHAKA, June 27, 2018 (BSS)- Brazil are on the verge of the World Cup last
16, requiring a win or draw against Serbia in the FIFA World Cup group E
encounter schedule to be held this (Wednesday) evening at Otkritie Arena in
Moscow, Russia.
Tite’s men left it late to beat Costa Rica on Friday, as Philippe Coutinho
and Neymar came to the rescue to send Brazil to the top of Group E.
Coach Tite said Brazil will not be changing their approach which helped
them win their previous game, while refusing to place too much pressure on
the shoulders of captain Neymar.
“What is maintaining your game plan? It’s when you score a goal in the 91st
minute by playing with the style the team has been playing since the start of
the game. I was very happy with the way we reacted emotionally in the second
half,” he said.
“We are not placing an excessive responsibility on Neymar’s shoulders for
success or failure,” he said. “It’s the whole team which wins or loses,”
source sky sports.
Serbia can also still qualify for the knockout rounds despite losing late
on to Switzerland in their last game and a draw against Brazil could see them
through if Switzerland lose to Costa Rica by two or more goals.
Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic said: “We have no fear of Brazil, but we have
to be patient, disciplined and play as a team. We have to satisfy the Serbian
nation.
“We have nothing to lose but if we are not ready to give our all, then we
will have lost… You may lose, Watch as Brazil’s late win against Costa Rica
was met with jubilant celebrations in Rio.
Brazil are expected to stick with their first choice XI, although Danilo is
out with a thigh problem and Douglas Costa has a hamstring injury.
Six of the Serbia squad have been booked and will be suspended if they are
booked again and reach the last 16 – Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Luka
Milivojevic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Aleksandar Prijovic, Nemanja Matic and
Branislav Ivanovic.
However, Krstajic is expected to name a strong starting XI including some
of the players at risk.
Yugoslavia included, Serbia and Brazil have met four times at the World
Cup. Their head-to-head record is perfectly balanced with one win each and
two draws.
Serbia and Brazil’s first ever World Cup appearance was in a match against
each other in 1930 – Yugoslavia running out 2-1 winners.
In total though (including as Yugoslavia), Serbia have faced Brazil on 19
occasions – winning just twice (D7 L10).
This will be the second meeting between Serbia and Brazil with the former
as an independent nation – their first encounter was in a friendly in June
2014, Brazil winning 1-0.
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In all competitions, Brazil are unbeaten in 13 matches (W9 D4 L0),
conceding just three goals in that run.
Brazil have only managed one victory in their last seven World Cup games
against European opposition (D2 L4) – a 3-1 win against Croatia in 2014.
As an independent nation, Serbia have lost each of the six World Cup
matches in which they have conceded, winning the two in which they kept clean
sheets.
Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 18 goals in 26 games for
club and country in 2018.
Philippe Coutinho has scored in each of his last three appearances for
Brazil while Neymar scored the second goal for Brazil against Costa Rica.