Gabriel Jesus, Neymar and Philippe Coutinho scored as Brazil swept aside Austria 3-0 in their final World Cup warm-up game in Vienna. The Brazilian team made a very good impression ahead of their first World Cup game against Switzerland on Sunday 17. Tite’s side – out to put right their 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany four years ago – also face Costa Rica and Serbia in Group E.
An open start saw Casemiro fire wide after eight minutes and 10 minutes later Neymar tested Heinz Lindner, shooting straight at the goalkeeper from 25 yards. Austria almost opened the scoring after 20 minutes when Alessandro Schopf volleyed just wide following Alisson’s punch. Paulinho went close when his drive was turned wide by Lindner but it was only a temporary reprieve as Brazil scored from the resulting corner nine minutes before the break.
Austria only half cleared and Marcelo’s drive deflected to Jesus for the forward to curl in from an angle making the 1 X 0. Four minutes later Lindner gathered Philippe Coutinho’s drive and Austria survived again after a mix-up between Sebastian Prodl and Lindner almost let Jesus in. In first-half injury time Marko Arnautovic nearly found an opening after Aleksandar Dragovic’s pass but could not connect.
Austria remained in the game and dominated possession early in the second half and gave Coutinho and Neymar some rough treatment, to the frustration of Brazil.
But Neymar got his goal when he latched onto Willian’s pass and stunning footwork saw him slot in after 63 minutes. Coutinho then made it 3-0 six minutes later when he swapped passes with former Liverpool team-mate Roberto Firmino and curled a finish around Lindner. Barcelona star Coutinho hit the bar with 16 minutes left when he nearly caught Lindner out. Austria nearly grabbed a consolation but Alisson – who had been a second-half spectator – turned Stefan Hierlander’s drive over before Arnautovic fizzed a shot wide with four minutes remaining. Brazil goes strong and is consider together with Germany and Spain, the favorites by the international media to get the Russia 2018 World Cup.
Source: Mirror and BBC
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