Brazil vs Switzerland 1-0: World Cup 2022 – how it happened

 

How the game was won

A back-and-forth affair ended as many expected, with Brazil taking all three points in Group G. Here's our match report on Brazil's gutsy win:

Brazil defeats Switzerland and wins the round of 16 of the World Cup sp

November 28, 2022 - 18:06 (18:06 GMT)

Sinister for your competitors

They didn't play very well in this game, but they were missing their main man Neymar and they got the job done in the end.

The last time Brazil extended a World Cup campaign with two wins? Twenty years ago, when they finished with that gold trophy, of course.

November 28, 2022 - 18:01 (18:01 GMT)

Team spirit in a picture

November 28, 2022 - 17:54 (17:54 GMT)

Full time

Brazil will let out a sigh of relief that they managed to cross the line in this game after looking to go until the last day to secure qualification. A rare goal from Casemiro separated the two teams, and the Brazil bench helped make the difference.

Brazil 1-0 Switzerland

Vinicius Jr kills an overlap

It's two against one at the back of Switzerland, but Vinicius Jr tries to take on Akanji when he could have passed him to the spare man. He decides to feed Rodrygo moments later, but the striker's shot is deflected into a corner.

94 minutes: Brazil 1-0 Switzerland

Six minutes added

It's getting a bit feisty in Stadium 974 as we enter the final stages.

Can Switzerland answer with its own goal?

90 minutes: Brazil 1-0 Switzerland

Changes for both sides

Widmer has been hooked and Fabian Frei is hired in his place.

Sandro has been taken to Brazil and Alex Telles has been introduced.

88 minutes: Brazil 1-0 Switzerland

GOAL

Casemiro puts Brazil ahead with a daring shot sent from the outside of his boot. The defensive midfielder shows more 

striking teammates how it's done.

83 minutes: Brazil 1-0 Switzerland

Antony auditions for the position of referee

Antony demonstrates that Rodríguez should be given a card after the defender fouls him, but Iván Barton keeps his cards in his pocket a lot. It is not a great look from the Brazilian.

81 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Switzerland responds with its own changes

Michel Aebischer and Haris Seferovic are in Switzerland. Embolo and Sow make their way.

Moments later, Rodrygo absolutely jumps a free kick straight out of play.

77 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Brazil rolls the dice

Gabriel Jesus and Antony are introduced for Brazil, and Richarlison and Raphinha make their way. Can they make a difference and break the deadlock?

74 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Vinicius Jr puts the afterburner

The Real Madrid winger beats Akanji, who is forced to bring him down on the edge of the Swiss box. A raised ball from Raphinha goes headfirst at the first attempt.

70 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

disallowed goal

It seemed that Vinicius Jr put Brazil in front with a good shot, but his goal was disallowed for offside in preparation.

How were you then?

66 minutes: Brazil 1-0 Switzerland

Switzerland is the best side

Those changes seem to have worked for Yakin, as his team puts sustained pressure on the Brazilian defense. You wouldn't know which team is ranked No. 1 in the world just from the evidence of what we've seen so far.

63 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

changes in progress

Gelson Fernandes and Renato Steffen enter Switzerland with Vargas and Rieder replaced.

Fred leaves for Bruno Guimaraes for Brazil.

60 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

game opening

Embolo brings down Alisson, who was uncharacteristically casual on the ball, but his block thankfully, from the goalkeeper's perspective, falls to a Brazilian.

Brazil breaks to the other end, and Richarlison is inches from receiving a spun ball from the left.

58 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Fred enters the referee's book

A stumble on Djibril Sow as Switzerland looked to hit Brazil on the counter-attack is enough for the Manchester United player to be booked next. You can't have arguments, really.

The Swiss go up the other end and almost get a shot wide, but several Brazilians get in the way.

54 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Brazil to release the handbrake?

Rodrygo will bring a little more oomph up the middle than Paquetá did, as the Selecao look to establish their reputation as the favorites for this tournament by sidelining the Swiss. They will have to create better chances than in the first 45 minutes, and so far things have been leveling off at the same slow pace.

Rieder receives a yellow for an elbow to Rodrygo's face.

50 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

A long way from Scotland

The Scottish national team may not have qualified for Qatar 2022, but that hasn't deterred these fans.

Rocco says he's glad to see Brazil, his second favorite team, play live for the first time. The 11-year-old's favorite players are Vinicius Jr and Thiago Silva, who will play against Switzerland tonight.

"It's great. It's the first time I've seen them live. My favorite team is Scotland because I'm from there, but to be able to see these guys in action is just amazing," he said.

Second time running

Brazil gets us going for the second period and will play from right to left this time as shown on TV screens. Rodrygo comes in for Paquetá.

Minutes 46: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Halftime!

Brazil started on the brighter side, but the Swiss grew in this game as the half progressed and they will surely be pleased that we are still level. Tite's team needs a spark and Neymar's injury looks worse right now, even though he has depth in attacking positions to go far in this World Cup.

Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Halftime!

Brazil started on the brighter side, but the Swiss grew in this game as the half progressed and they will surely be pleased that we are still level. Tite's team needs a spark and Neymar's injury looks worse right now, even though he has depth in attacking positions to go far in this World Cup.

Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Closer than many expected

The teams appear to be better matched than many expected ahead of the games, and the pressure could mount on Brazil as this game progresses.

Manuel Akanji issues a tough but fair challenge to Richarlison near the touchline, which the referee, unlike the Brazil striker, has no problem with.

Thiago Silva approaches from a Richarlison corner and for a second the stadium lights seem to go out, but now we're back to normal.

It's good to keep busy

Brazil's forwards are certainly making sure that Swiss Yann Sommer doesn't get bored in goal.

Brazil sitting on the low block

They are getting everyone behind the ball when they are out of possession and this allows the Swiss to move up the field.

Vargas almost escapes from Thiago Silva, but eventually loses control of the ball in the box.

Minutes 41: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Swiss patients on your way

Murat Yakin will be happy with how this game is going so far, with the result, in particular, likely music to his ears.

Switzerland is slowly moving the ball up the field when they do, and they seem happy to take the sting out of the game.

37 min: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Raphinha with a rangefinder

The Barcelona striker decides to take matters into his own hands when he cuts from that right-side bunk but shoots straight at Sommer on goal.

Brazil is creating opportunities in all areas, but nothing is bright yet.

34 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Great opportunity for Vinicius Jr.

He lightly shoots the ball to the far post and can only direct it toward Yann Sommer without too much force, but it was a great drive from Raphael Raphinha from the right. The resulting corner is resolved by the Swiss and for now, they can breathe.

Minutes 29: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Brazil is in no hurry

Tite's team is playing like a team that knows that World Cups are not won in the group stage.

They moderately probe and pull the Swiss defense.

A draw wouldn't be a terrible result for either of you, but don't shout it too loud.

Minutes 25: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

stat attack

This is what the numbers look like with 20 minutes on the clock. Don't forget you can access these stats and more, all updated live, by clicking the tab at the top of this blog.

Lucas Paquetá illuminating things

Paquetá finds some space on the left now as he slides across the pitch, and his hard, low ball in the box is sliced ​​with Richarlison on the prowl.

The West Ham striker seems to be the liveliest player around.

21 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

wasteful swiss piece

Switzerland has a good platform in midfield, following a foul by Carlos Henrique Casemiro, but takes the free kick short and then ends up losing possession.

The Swiss have splurged on the ball a bit when they entered the Brazil half so far.

18 min: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Brazil enters from behind

Paquetá feeds Richarlison with a move off the boot. Richarlison runs well behind the Swiss defense, but his cut misses Vinicius Jr in the middle. Really nice first play by the men in yellow and blue.

14 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Up in the stands

Cafu and Roberto Carlos are watching the match at Estadio 974.

select full voice

There were reports of some empty seats before kick-off, but the atmosphere in Stadium 974 is electric.

The 44,089-capacity venue will be dismantled after this tournament ends, as it was built using 974 shipping containers.

Minutes 9: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Vinicius Jr wins a free kick

The Real Madrid man runs unopposed down the left flank and ultimately needs a Swiss free kick to stop him.

Richarlison's delivery goes over the top of everyone, but any touch could have been impactful if he had received a touch from a player on either side.

4 minutes: Brazil 0-0 Switzerland

Kick-off

Switzerland gets us going dressed in red and white and playing from right to left on TV screens.

Brazil wears its yellow Canary jerseys.

Neymar does not travel with the team

The Associated Press reports that Neymar is the only Brazilian player not to travel with the team to Monday's game after suffering an ankle injury in the win over Serbia. It is likely to fuel speculation about the severity of the blow, with even the striker himself saying that his World Cup is not over. The medical team has been reluctant to set a timetable for his recovery.

Without Dani Alves (yet)

We have all been denied the chance to see the 39-year-old make an appearance at this World Cup despite many expecting him to start in place of the injured Danilo. Tite may have wisely opted for the livelier Militão in that position, but we can see the veteran introduced from the bench.

No pressure on Switzerland

They will be hoping to deliver another upset in what is fast becoming the World Cup of upsets, but Yakin will know that their real competition to qualify from Group G will be their final opponent, Serbia.

The latter's draw with Cameroon means Switzerland have a great chance to go through if they can earn a point today, but they will probably still have it in their own hands even if they don't.

Murat Yakin has gone for an extra length in the middle of the park as Rieder comes into his starting team for Xherdan Shaqiri.

Injuries to Neymar and Danilo see Fred and Militão come into the team with Paquetá pushed a bit further up the field.