Luay Ahmed
The first half saw very little in the way of serious goalscoring opportunities. However, Brazil looked the more likely of the two teams to score in the opening 45 minutes.
The first half chance came Brazil’s way in the 12th minute, when Richarlison was played in behind the Swiss defense on the right channel. The Tottenham Hostspur cut the ball back to Vinicius in the penalty box, but the ball was cleared before the Real Madrid winger could get his foot on the ball.
10 minutes later, Paqueta fizzed in a dangerous low cross for Richarlison, who was inches away from connecting with the ball in front of goal.
In the 26th minute, Brazil had their best chance of the half when a in swinging cross from Raphinha found Vinicius at the far post. Sommer responded to the shot with a strong save.
Switzerland’s only close chance came in the 26th minute when a Rodriguez cross found Sow at the near post. The Swiss number 15 controlled the ball in a good position, but could not get off a strike before the Brazilian defense intervened.
The first 20 minutes of the second half passed in the same manner as the first, with Brazil probing with possession without creating any clear goalscoring chances. However, the game sprung into life in the 65th minute when Casemiro played a brilliant through ball into the path of Vinicius who coolly slotted the ball home. The Brazilian joy was short lived, as a VAR review ruled the goal offside.
Brazil brought on Bruno Guimaraes, Gabriel Jesus, Rodrygo and Antony in an effort to create more chances, and the substitutions paid off when Rodrygo played an acute first time pass to Casemiro, who smashed a first-time volley into the back of the net with the outside of his right foot.
A few minutes later, Sommer produced a strong save from a curling Rodrygo effort to keep Switzerland in the game. Both Vinicius and Rodrygo had further chances to double the scoreline but could not convert.
Final score: Brazil 1 – 0 Switzerland.