Serbia vs Brazil: Live blog, text commentary, line-ups, stream & TV channel

Ryan Kelly

Serbia vs Brazil: Live blog, text commentary, line-ups, stream & TV channel image

Brazil run out deserved winners to book a tie with Mexico in the last-16. Serbia piled bodies forward and began to put pressure on the Brazil defence before Silva rose at the front post to power Neymar's corner into the near corner. The second goal seemed to knock the fight out of Serbia and Brazil were allowed to move the ball around with comfort and see out the last 20 minutes untroubled. Serbia battled hard to stay in it prior to that but found Alisson and the Brazil defence to be in fine form.

Neymar Brazil Serbia World Cup

FULL-TIME: SERBIA 0-2 BRAZIL


90+3 mins: CHANCE! Jesus finds Neymar in the box but the Paris Saint-Germain winger is forced wide and can only fire his effort straight at Stojkovic.

90+2 mins: Serbia look to end the game in a flurry, if only for the entertainment of their fans. They still can't find a clear route through the Brazil back line though, who to their credit have been impressive today.

90 mins: The fourth official has indicated three minutes of additional time.

89 mins: Josip Drmic has restored Switzerland's lead against Costa Rica. The Swiss will finish the group level on points with Brazil as things stand, but Tite's side will go through as group winners due to their superior goal difference.

SUB! Final change for Serbia as Mitrovic is replaced by Jovic for the final few minutes.

87 mins: Serbia work the ball around the Brazil box and find Mitrovic, but once more his first-time shot is comfortably blocked by a defender.

86 mins: CHANCE! Fernandinho's chipped pass towards the left wing takes a huge deflection and falls into the path of Neymar inside the box. He tries to chip the ball beyond Stojkovic but the Serbia goalkeeper gets a strong hand to it to clear the danger. 

84 mins: There are just over five minutes left to play and Brazil will run out comfortable winners both in this game and in the group. Serbia just have no fight left in them.

82 mins: CHANCE! A lofted pass finds Willian free on the right of the box. His low pass across the box is deflected into the path of Neymar, but he can only direct his effort over the bar.

SUB! Kostic is replaced by Radonjic for Serbia's second change of the night.

80 mins: Coutinho is replaced by Augusto for Brazil's final change of the night. The Barcelona playmaker has been excellent today.

79 mins: Casemiro brings an end to Brazil's passing play with a wild shot from around 35 yards out, which flies well over the crossbar.

CHANCE! Mitrovic brings a Zivkovic's cross from the right down with his chest, but his shot on the turn is mistimed and flies wide of the left post.

78 mins: The Brazil fans are cheering every single Brazil pass now. Serbia almost look like they have given up. They are not really pressing Brazil and allowing them to freely move around the outside of the box.

76 mins: Serbia are trying to force the issue when they come forward now and they are just giving the ball straight back to Brazil. 

75 mins: Neymar has been involved in seven goals in eight World Cup appearances (five goals, two assists).

SUB! Ljajic has been impressive for Serbia this evening, His night is up though, with Zivkovic coming on to replace him.

73 mins: That second goal seems to have knocked the stuffing out of Serbia a little bit. They were really taking the game to Brazil before the introduction of Fernandinho but they have certainly lost their edge now.

71 mins: CHANCE! Willian's corner is cleared, but only as far as Filipe Luis. The defender drives a half-volley towards goal but Stojkovic dives low to parry it clear. 

70 mins: Brazil race forward once more through Neymar. He finds Coutinho on the edge of the box, who turns onto his right foot before trying a shot. It deflects behind for another Brazil corner.

YELLOW! Mitrovic is booked for Serbia prior to Brazil taking their corner.

Thiago Silva Brazil World Cup

68 mins: GOAL! 2-0 Brazil!!!! Neymar with the corner and Silva gets away from Matic at the front post to power a header beyond Stojkovic and into the near corner. There is surely no way back for Serbia now.

Neymar with a wonderful delivery towards the front post, where Silva is on hand to double Brazil's lead.

67 mins: Neymar races beyond his marker on the left of the box and fires in a low cross, but it is cleared for a corner by Milenkovic.

66 mins: SUB! Defensive change for Brazil as Paulinho is the one to make way for Manchester City's Fernandinho.

65 mins: CHANCE! Ljajic again with a cross from the right and Mitrovic rises above Fagner at the back post to head towards goal. It is too close to Alisson though, who drops onto the ball to claim it. They are getting closer though.

63 mins: CHANCE! Milinkovic-Savic tries his luck from the centre of the box but he can only fire it wide of the right post. Serbia are on top at the moment. Fernandinho is being readied to join the fray for Brazil.

62 mins: CHANCE! Serbia are upping the tempo now and Tadic gets into the box. He tries a chipped effort towards the far corner which just narrowly bounces wide. 

61 mins: CHANCE! Ljajic fires in a dangerous cross from the right wing across the face of goal. Alisson punches the ball but only as far as Mitrovic in the centre of the box, who can only head into the legs of a defender. That was a huge chance for Serbia.

60 mins: Kendall Waston has equalised for Costa Rica. Serbia will still need to win to reach the last-16 though as things stand.

59 mins: Willian tries to find Paulinho at the edge of the box but it is easily cleared. Serbia try to break down the left wing through Kostic but Filipe Luis gets it clear. This game is coming to life now.

58 mins: Brazil get a corner from that shot but it is cleared again for another one. Willian to deliver.

57 mins: CHANCE! Serbia's corner is easily cleared and Brazil get a chance on the counter. The ball is worked to Neymar on the left of the box but his low shot is saved by the legs of Stojkovic at the near post.

56 mins: CHANCE! Ljajic whips in a very dangerous cross-shot and Miranda races ahead of Alisson to clear over the crossbar. He was fortunate there Miranda, that could have gone anywhere. 

55 mins: Serbia are starting to pour bodies forward now. Milinkovic-Savic spins on the edge of the box to get his shot away but it is blocked by Miranda. They still haven't really tested this Brazil defence so far.

53 mins: CHANCE! Matic's neat pass through the centre of the pitch opens up a three on two situation for Serbia. It is worked to the right for Tadic but the return pass is just behind Ljajic, giving time for Brazil to get back and clear the danger. They could be left to rue that missed opportunity, Serbia.

52 mins: Brazil force Serbia to the edge of their own box. Willian works a yard of space beyond his marker and fires in a low cross towards the centre of the box, where Veljkovic is on hand to clear. Good stuff from Willian but there was no one to meet it.

50 mins: Serbia are looking a little reluctant to get men forward. Their attacking options are limited and Milinkovic-Savic's through ball rolls harmlessly out of play.

48 mins: YELLOW! Matic is booked for a foul on Jesus.

46 mins: Serbia get the second half underway! As it stands, they will go out of the competition if they don't find a way back into this game.


It will be more of the same for Tite's Brazil and they will likely see more space behind the Serbia defence as they push for a way back into the game. With Switzerland leading Costa Rica, Serbia will have to take the game to Brazil and go for the win now, which means taking more risks and potentially leaving themselves exposed to the pace of Brazil’s attackers.

Brazil have been fluid in attack and resolute in defence and they have made it count, with Paulinho's goal giving them an important lead at the break. Serbia enjoyed their fair share of possession early in the half but they could not find a way beyond Alisson and his defenders. So far, so good from Brazil, but Serbia have it all to do if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the last-16 alive.

Brazil World Cup

HALF-TIME: SERBIA 0-1 BRAZIL


45+2 mins: CHANCE! Filipe Luis flicks the ball into the path of Neymar on the edge of the box, who's curling effort flies narrowly over the crossbar at the far post. Wonderful attacking play from the Brazilians in this first half.

45+1 mins: The fourth official has indicated two minutes of additional time.

45 mins: Coutinho has been involved in three of Brazil's four goals for Brazil at the 2018 World Cup (two goals, one assist).

44 mins: Serbia have lost their edge a little bit here, summarised by Matic giving the ball away cheaply as Serbia look to break out of defence.

43 mins: Under Tite, only Neymar and Gabriel Jesus (10) have scored more goals for Brazil than Paulinho (8).

41 mins: Serbia get another corner on the left but this time the delivery is poor. Casemiro can clear with ease at the front post. Serbia will need to make more of these set pieces if they are to get back into this game. Brazil are dominating possession.

40 mins: Serbia with another corner and again Alisson is off his line to punch clear. Serbia just can't find a way through at the moment.

38 mins: Blerim Dzemaili has given Switzerland the lead in the other game, meaning Brazil will win the group as things stand.

36 mins: GOAL! 1-0 Brazil!!!! It had been coming. Another delightful chipped pass over the Serbian defence finds the run of Paulinho, who takes one touch in the box before chipped over the onrushing Stojkovic. Serbia have it all to do now.

35 mins: Neymar has scored with just one of his last eight shots on target at the World Cup.

34 mins: CHANCE! A cross from the left finds Tadic just inside the left of the box. He chips it towards the penalty spot, where Mitrovic tries an ambitious overhead kick, which flies high over the crossbar.

33 mins: YELLOW! Ljajic is booked for that foul on Neymar.

32 mins: It isn't the best delivery and Brazil get it clear with relative ease. Neymar races clear down the right wing and he is brought down on the touchline by Ljjajic's late sliding tackle.

31 mins: A chance from the set piece for Serbia as Silva catches Mitrovic with a high boot just beyond the halfway line.

29 mins: CHANCE! Neymar finds Jesus with a run behind the defence. He takes a touch to pull the ball onto his right foot, but his delay allows Milenkovic to get back in time to block. Serbia are struggling to deal with the runs of the Manchester City youngster.

27 mins: Brazil are beginning to take control of possession now as Serbia fall back to their own half. They have been very impressive in this first half.

25 mins: CHANCE! Jesus manages to worm a pass through the legs of a defender to Neymar, who takes a touch and tries a curl an effort towards the far corner from a tight angle. Stojkovic reads it well though and tips it wide.

24 mins: The Brazil fans are making themselves heard here as the men in yellow work their way forward once more.

22 mins: Another Serbia corner and again Alisson is off his line to punch clear. Serbia have played well so far but they have not really tested the Brazil goalkeeper yet.

20 mins: Brazil cannot find a route through the packed Serbia defence and Serbia break. Kostic runs into trouble on the halfway line but holds the ball up excellently and slows down the game again. Great work from the midfielder.

18 mins: Great again from Brazil. They move the ball patiently around the midfield area and then quick as a flash they are on the front foot. Coutinho chips a first-time pass over the Serbia defence for the run of Jesus, but Stojkovic races off his line to get there ahead of him. They are looking dangerous in these opening stages, Brazil.

16 mins: Some lovely quick passing play from Brazil again as they come forward. The ball is worked to Willian on the right wing but his cross is well overhit. Serbia goal kick.

15 mins: The cross from the corner is a little too deep and Brazil push out quickly. Serbia keep the ball though.

14 mins: Serbia get the first corner of the game as Kolarov's half-volley from the edge of the box deflects off a defender.

12 mins: Serbia have a free kick just beyond the halfway line. It is whipped into the box with plenty of pace, but Alisson is quick off his line to punch the ball clear, with Mitrovic lying in wait behind him.

Marcelo Brazil Serbia World Cup 2018

10 mins: SUB! Confirmation of that change as Marcelo is replaced by Luis due to injury. He was limping slightly as he approached the bench.

9 mins: Early change for Brazil as Marcelo looks to be going off with what looks to be illness. Filipe Luis is being readied as a replacement.

7 mins: Brazil get the ball clear but Serbia are straight back at them. A cross from the right wing finds a teammate at the back post, who heads it towards Mitrovic at the near post. He is beaten in the air by Silva though and concedes a free kick.

6 mins: The Serbian fans roar their approval as Serbia make their way to the final third through Tadic. He beats one defender but is stopped in his tracks by Silva. 

4 mins: Brazil have started this game brilliantly. They bomb forward and Coutinho slots a defence-splitting pass down the left of the box for the run of Jesus. His shot is saved and then cleared wide from the six-yard box. It wouldn't have counted anyway as the linesman flags for offside.

2 mins: The Serbians, playing in all red this evening, are absolutely swarming the Brazil attackers early on. Neymar does get space though and races towards the box, he finds Coutinho at the edge of the box who can only fire his shot into the legs of Willian, who was offside. Serbia can breathe.

1 min: Brazil, playing in their traditional yellow shirts and blue shorts, get the game underway!


HERE WE GO...

The national anthems are sung and the players get into position. Kick-off is minutes away.

There are no changes to the Brazil line-up from their last-gasp victory over Costa Rica. Their only absentees are Danilo and Douglas Costa, who have thigh and hamstring injuries respectively.

Serbia make three changes to the side that started in their 2-1 defeat to Switzerland. Ivanovic and Tosic drop to the bench as Rukavina and Veljkovic come into the side in defence. Milivojevic is replaced by Ljajic, who lines up in the number 10 role, with Milinkovic-Savic dropping alongside Matic.

Brazil substitutes: Renato Augusto, Marquinhos, Ederson, Roberto Firmino, Cassio, Filipe Luis, Fernandinho, Fred, Geromel, Taison

Brazil XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Fagner, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Marcelo; Paulinho, Casemiro, Coutinho; Willian, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar

Serbia substitutes: Marko Dmitrovic, Predrag Rajkovic, Milan Rodic, Nemanja Radonjic, Luka Jovic, Marko Grujic, Aleksandar Prijovic, Andrija Zivkovic, Luka Milivojevic, Uros Spajic, Branislav Ivanovic, Dusko Tosic

Serbia XI (4-2-3-1): Vladimir Stojkovic; Antonio Rukavina, Nikola Milenkovic, Milos Veljkovic, Aleksandar Kolarov; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Nemanja Matic; Dusan Tadic, Adem Ljajic, Filip Kostic; Aleksandar Mitrovic

There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening…

STAT: In all competitions, Brazil are unbeaten in 13 matches (W9 D4 L0), conceding just three goals in that run.

Like many of the other tournament favourites at this World Cup, Brazil have still not hit the heights expected of them so far. It took two injury time goals to finally find a way through a battling Costa Rica side and they will likely face another tough night against a packed defence against the Serbians.

For Brazil, it is a little more straightforward. The group leaders will progress with a draw against Serbia but will need to better Switzerland’s result to guarantee top spot. If their goal difference and goals scored are the same, then first place could be decided by their disciplinary record.

STAT: Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 18 goals in 26 games for club and country in 2018.

A draw would be enough for Serbia but only if Switzerland lose by more than one goal. If it is only one, their positions would then be decided by goals scored. If they are equal on them as well, then Switzerland would progress courtesy of their victory over Serbia.

Serbia are on the verge of their best progress in the World Cup since they became an independent nation, but Shaqiri’s last minute winner for Switzerland last time out means that they will still have to rely on the outcome of the other Group E game to have any hope of reaching the last-16.

20 mins until KO: Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of today’s Group E game between Serbia and Brazil at the Otkrytie Arena.


Squads & Team News

Danilo and Douglas Costa remain sidelined through injury, but Philippe Coutinho, Neymar and Casemiro all start in an unchanged line-up from their late 2-0 win over Costa Rica, despite being on yellow cards ahead of the knockout stages, with qualification not yet confirmed. 

Serbia, however, have six players at risk of suspension ahead of the next round, and head coach Mladen Krstajic  makes three changes, with Branislav Ivanovic, Dusko Tosic and Luka Milivojevic dropped ahead of this crunch clash.

Potential Serbia XI: Stojkovic; Kolarov, Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Rukavina; Matic, Milinkovic-Savic; Kostic, Ljajic, Tadic; Mitrovic

Serbia subs: Dmitrovic, Rajkovic, Rodic, Radonjic, Jovic, Grujic, Prijovic, Zivkovic, Milivojevic, Spajic, Ivanovic, Tosic

Potential Brazil XI: Alisson; Marcelo, Miranda T. Silva, Fagner; Casemiro, Coutinho, Paulinho; Neymar, Jesus, Willian

Brazil subs: Augusto, Marquinhos, Ederson, Firmino, Cassio, Luis, Fernandinho, Fred, Geromel, Taison


TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch


In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

US TV channel Online stream
FOX / Telemundo fubo TV (7-day free trial)

In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on TV on ITV or streamed live online using the ITV Player.

UK TV channel Online stream
ITV ITV Player
Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 18 goals in 26 games for club and country in 2018.
Serbia XI (4-2-3-1): Vladimir Stojkovic; Antonio Rukavina, Nikola Milenkovic, Milos Veljkovic, Aleksandar Kolarov; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Nemanja Matic; Dusan Tadic, Adem Ljajic, Filip Kostic; Aleksandar Mitrovic
Brazil XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Fagner, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Marcelo; Paulinho, Casemiro, Coutinho; Willian, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar
Serbia get the first corner of the game as Kolarov's half-volley from the edge of the box deflects off a defender.
The cross from the corner is a little too deep and Brazil push out quickly. Serbia keep the ball though.
Under Tite, only Neymar and Gabriel Jesus (10) have scored more goals for Brazil than Paulinho (8).
The Brazil fans are cheering every single Brazil pass now. Serbia almost look like they have given up. They are not really pressing Brazil and allowing them to freely move around the outside of the box.
Casemiro brings an end to Brazil's passing play with a wild shot from around 35 yards out, which flies well over the crossbar.

Ryan Kelly