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Casemiro’s clinical finish gives Brazil edge over Switzerland… get into next round

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Stadium 947, Doha, State of Qatar

The ball swing from left to right and verse versa just as it moved from one end to the other.

Crisp passes rugged defending by both Brazil and Switzerland. But the cutting edge of Brazil gave the World Cup record holders a well deserved victory and a stay atop of  Group G at the container-made Stadium 947.

A 1-0 win means the five-time World Cup winners have scaled the group stage hurdle into the round of 16. Their three points accrued means they can only be equalled and certainly no team in the group can obtain more in the group.

They now join defending champions, France as one of the early birds into the next round.

The defeated Switzerland, with their fate in their own hands can still qualify if they beat bottom-placed Serbia in the group.

 Playing without the injured Neymar, Brazil showed they meant business right from the start. They raided the Swiss area, but stout defending prevented possible goals.

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The Swiss will respond with sporadic raids which were often curtailed by the experienced Brazilians.

At a point, Brazil thought they had taken the lead after 60 minutes when

Soon the thrill waned as both side Vinicius Jr calmly slot the ball past the left side of Goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

But the Swiss were rescued by the VAR that ruled the Brazilian offside.  The Swiss could have escaped with a point, but the inspired Brazilians continued to pile the pressure.

The disallowed goal was more than compensate for when Casemiro struck after latching on the half-volley from Rodrygo.

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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