Post-Richarlison, it was as if a switch had been flicked for Tite’s side. It might also take something truly remarkable to oust Brazil as a team. One touch to flick the ball into the air, another to rip it into the net. It will take something truly remarkable to oust Richarlison’s effort, all springy power and fluid technique. We are only through one round of the most controversial football tournament in the history of the game, but already we might have witnessed its finest goal. Richarlison took off, his back to goal and his feet somehow over his head, to ignite his team’s campaign and perhaps this World Cup as a whole.
And then, a flash of yellow, a burst of light.
Brazil were a little disjointed and, dare we say it, a little unimaginative for much of this game against an organised Serbia. Sometimes all it takes is a single moment, or in this case a single kick of a football, for an entire arena, and an entire team, to be transformed. The drums were thumping in the stands of the Lusail Stadium, the traditional sound of World Cup football colliding with the modern opulence of this enormous Qatari arena, and the Brazilian boys were suddenly dancing to the samba beat. To square it all off there is Allison in goal and if he can't play, Ederson will take his place.Goals like this are what World Cups are about Then there is the imperious Casemiro in midfield, assisted by Fred who has been impressive this season for Manchester United, and then comes that centre back duo of Marquinhos and Thiago Silva with full backs like Sandro and Danilo. Imagine having to defend against the likes of Raphinha, Richarlison, Neymar and Vinicius for about 80 minutes of the match, and then against the guys substituting them, who would be Antony, Martinelli, Jesus and Rodrygo. Neymar was taken off as a precaution as he was kicked far too many times but it's not like they were dependent on him, they have riches all over the pitch and on the bench. A scary display of talent from Brazil and if there was any doubts for anyone as to why they should put them as their favourites, this match should answer them. Serbia had no shots on target at all throughout the match, Brazil had eight of them. If Raphinha had converted the chances he had and if those long range shots from the truly majestic Casemiro and Fred had gone in, this would have been a 5-0 or even 6-0 win for Brazil. The 2-0 scoreline is very flattering indeed for Serbia.
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