Brazil, the most successful team in FIFA World Cup history, began their campaign in Qatar on November 24 with a commanding 2-0 victory over Serbia at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. Because of his decisive double against the Serbians, Richarlison was named Man of the Match.
The first big chance of the match came in the 28th minute, but Tite’s team took some time to settle in against Serbia. Thiago Silva played a great through ball into the Serbian box for Vinicius Junior, but goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic read the ball and hurriedly cleared it out of harm’s way.
Rafinha and Lucas Paqueta exchanged a few passes with each other seven minutes later before going for the goal. However, the goalkeeper was able to easily stop his shot because it lacked power.
Vinicius Junior found Neymar inside the box with a deft left-footed cross ten minutes into the second 45.
The superstar took it at first, but it missed the mark. From point-blank range, Richarlison scored Brazil’s first goal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the 61st minute, just moments after Alex Sandro hit the crossbar.
The no came eleven minutes later.9 scored an incredible acrobatic goal after receiving a pass from Vinicius Junior to double Canarinho’s lead. In the final stages of the match, Tite’s team continued to press Serbia and came very close to adding to their score on a few occasions.
In the 81st minute, Casemiro hit the crossbar, six minutes before Rodrygo missed a great chance to score his first FIFA World Cup goal. Serbia attempted to score in the final minute, but the five-time world champions were determined not to concede.
Neymar and his team’s perfect declaration of intent gave their fans hope for a successful tournament. In their first match in Qatar on Thursday, these five Brazilian stars stood out:
#5 Thiago Silva
The 38-year-old lion-hearted center-back for Chelsea, Thiago Silva, served as the heart of Brazil’s defense on Thursday alongside Marquinhos. The captain of Brazil played long balls from deep, rarely gave the ball away, and used short, precise passes to calm down tense situations.
Silva completed 68 passes with 93.2 percent accuracy in Brazil’s 2022 FIFA World Cup opener, hit four precise long balls, blocked a shot, made a clearance, and received a foul.
#4 Alex Sandro
The left-back from Brazil, Alex Sandro, is not the most daring fullback in the game. However, despite this, he continues to play a significant role on Tite’s team. Sandro’s main USP is his defensive acumen, and on Thursday, it once more assisted the Selecao.
He kept Dusan Tadic’s threat at bay, cleared the ball without hesitation when necessary, and rarely misplaced a pass.
Sandro likewise endeavored a shot on track in the 60th moment. Milinkovic-Savic was completely taken aback by his outside-the-box piledriver, but the keeper was saved by the left post.
Sandro made seven clearances, completed 73 passes (93.6% accuracy) against the European powerhouse, won a few duels, and made an interception.
#3 Casemiro
On Thursday, Casemiro played as a holding midfielder and impressed spectators with his passing range, neat defense, and outside-the-box shots. The man from Manchester United was also unlucky not to score against Serbia; his perfectly struck curler in the 81st minute hit the post and came out.
Casemiro played a crucial pass, completed 55 passes (84.6% accuracy), accurately delivered three long balls, and won five of six duels at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. He also attempted three tackles, made two clearances, and stopped a shot.
#2 Vinicius Junior
Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior put on a stunning performance down the left flank during his first FIFA World Cup appearance. He contributed to both of Brazil’s goals and repeatedly displayed his lightning-fast pace.
Milinkovic-Savic’s life was made difficult just past the hour mark by his skillful reversal and dipping effort. Richarlison promptly turned the ball in after the keeper spilled it in his direction. Vinicius Junior raced down the left flank in the 74th minute and superbly picked out Richarlison with a low outside-the-boot pass, which led to Richarlison’s world-class strike.
#1 Richarlison
When Tite chose Richarlison of Spurs over Roberto Firmino of Liverpool in his 26-man World Cup squad, eyebrows were raised. With an impeccable performance against Serbia, Richarlison put all of those worries to rest. Despite having only 25 touches and 12 precise passes, the center forward was able to score two excellent goals thanks to his poacher’s instinct.
In the 62nd minute, Richarlison scored his first goal by turning in a Vinicius Junior rebound from close range. Vinicius Junior picked Richarlison out brilliantly with a clever left-footed pass eleven minutes later, and the no.9 put it out with a mesmerizing sideways scissor kick.
He demonstrated nothing short of the spellbinding technique by lifting the ball up with his left foot and finishing with his right. It was without a doubt the best goal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup’s first matchday.