Casemiro finally found a hole in the Swiss defence as he lasered a half volley into the far corner with Yann Sommer barely moving a muscle. Looking on in the stands, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, and Ronaldo, a veritable pantheon of footballing gods who captivated a world with a whole encyclopedia of similar such brilliance. Roberto Carlos gave an ecstatic thumbs up, Ronaldo, the beefier version savored the moment with a smile, and Cafu clapped delightedly.
The Swiss frustrated the Seleccao for almost three quarters of the match doing virtually nothing on attack. They were looking to escape with a draw and the result was a monotonous, soul numbing pinging of the ball which barely moved forward. They came very close to that result. But this Brazilian side has some magicians and one of them is Vinicius Jr., a elusive handful down that left channel, wriggling through tackles, tight spaces, leaving bodies behind with his pace and dribbles. He can collapse and warp space, a black hole. Brazil’s player of this World Cup.
Brazil are through to the knock out stage. The Swiss will battle the Serbs next hoping to secure the second spot.
For your viewing pleasure.