Brazil Makes Re-Believers Outta Serbia

Based on what the Seleção had shown in Russia -- not to mention in the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Copa América -- Serbia surely thought they had decent odds to prevail in this elimination match.

Nope.

Whatever's been ailing the globe's preeminent ambassadors for the Beautiful Game, it definitely wasn't present in Moscow's Otkritie Arena on this day.

Brazil was firing on all cylinders, and -- with the Round of 16 looming in the near future -- not a moment too soon.

 

Led by Philippe Coutinho, the Seleção will advance after their 0-2 performance.

Serbia was bringing heat from the start, while Brazil suffered a complication. In the 9th minute, Marcelo was subbed-off for Felipe Luís due to a back spasm. Consequently, dudes lost a little bit of their offensive power.

It was then when the Serbs got more dangerous, mainly through Sergej Milinković-Savić. In the 36th minute, though, Coutinho launched a brilliant long pass that found Paulinho. The Barcelona midfielder settled and touched over Vladimir Stojković to put the South Americans on the board:

It was a similar story in the second half. Serbia was menaced right outta the intermission and almost equalized with Adem Ljajić and Aleksandar Mitrović.

Fortunately for Alisson Becker, he got by with a lotta help from his friends.

 

After enduring all that Serb pressure, it was the Brazilians who struck again.

It came in the 68th minute when Thiago Silva made it two with a header followed by a good Neymar corner:

Serbian spirit was crushed after that. Brazil played out the clock controlling the ball, just waiting for the final whistle.

Late in the proceedings, Neymar could've popped a third but missed a good opportunity straight up against Stojković. It happens to the best of them.

Easy to say when you're up by a pair.

On to the bracket and a date with a totally relieved Mexico.