DOHA, November 25, 2022 - Brazil, one of the favoured teams to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, made their debut yesterday with a bittersweet feeling. Their victory against Serbia (2-0 the final score) was comforting but spoiled by the ankle injury of their star player, Neymar Jr, who was forced to leave the pitch, with 10 minutes to go before the end of the match.
The atmosphere at Lusail Stadium, located in the north of the Qatari capital, Doha, was similar to what you see on days the “Canarinha”, Brazil's national football team play a home-soil match in the Maracanã Stadium. The Brazilian fans, under the rhythm of samba, were arriving at the stadium with high spirits, after the defeat of their main continental rivals, Argentina, 48 hours earlier, against Saudi Arabia.
The match's first half was disappointing, with Brazil dominating the game, but hardly cutting chances for scoring. After the break, Tite's men seemed to have understood, that in this World Cup, whoever falls asleep ends up losing. And, far from thinking that the game was easy, they stepped on the gas and Richarlison opened the scoring, finishing off from point-blank range, after a rebound from the Serbian goalkeeper at minute 62. From then on, the storm began, with a shot at the post by Alex Sandro and then the second goal.
Once again, at minute 73, Richarlison doubled the score after a good assist from Vinicius Jr. Probably the best goal of the World Cup so far. Then, another shot to the post from Casemiro and more shots from Rodrygo, Rapinha and Fred completed the Brazilian dominance over an orderly Serbia, who held up very well until the first goal. The entrance of Vlahovic did not serve to equalize the forces with the Brazilian Titans.
Everything seemed to be going very well for Brazil, until minute 79, when Neymar Jr. suffered an injury. A sprained ankle, which ended up with the striker crying on the bench. It is already said that he will not be able to play the other two games on the group stage. But Canarinha's medical services say that we will have to wait for the tests that will be done today, to find out the real extent of his injury.
At the moment, Brazil presented itself as one of the World Cup's main favourites. Of course with a bitter-sweet taste.
