Neymbrazil ar celebrates brazil onyourcases.com” target=”_blank”>brazil with Raphinha, Lucas Paqueta brazil and Vinicius Junior after scoring Brazil’s second brazil aim Monday against South Korea. (Photo with brazil the aid of Francois Nel/Getty Images)
DOHA, Qatar brazil — The sweeping, unrelenting and joyous terror of the Brazil national grobrazil up struck South Korea here Monday night in a World Cup knockout game that felt extra like a declaration-making display.
It ended Brazil four, South Korea 1, however it brazil was much less about brazil desires and more approximately the yellow-clad attackers who brazil danced and darted and flowed.
The Brazilians sprung forward in waves at Stadium 974, with their carefree fanatics developing an upbeat soundtrack. They wove tricky styles. They samba’d with a football ball at their feet and after it had punctured the South Korean internet.
And brazil they showed why — with Neymar returned from injury and brilliance all round him — brazil they’re 2022 World Cup favorites.
They showed why earlier than they’d even scored certainly one of their musical goals, when the ball discovered its manner to Vinicius Jr. at the left aspect. He squared up a defender and struck fear into all of South Korea. Then he casually swung the ball thru midfield, out to the proper, to Raphinha, who did likewise. They had Neymar floating between them and Richarlison jogging past them, and for 45 mins, earlier than they eased up on the fuel, they brazil looked downright not possible to prevent.
They went ahead thru this very multipronged danger, when Raphinha discarded a fullback at the proper. Neymar and Richarlison crashed closer to the penalty spot, and Korean defenders swarmed. Raphinha’s pass missed all of them and squirted thru to Vinicius, to a top-25 participant inside the international all by myself, with a costly few seconds to choose his nook.
He picked it — top right — and Brazil was on its manner.
Neymar scored from the penalty spot soon thereafter. brazil After each intention, all 10 area gamers gravitated closer to a corner flag and fashioned a circle, with their hands around each other and with the goalscorer in the center. All 10 bounded up and down with happiness. Four — Neymar, Vini, Raphinha and Lucas Paquetá — stayed in the back of after the huddles broke to bounce their already choreographed dance. It all regarded emblematic of their cheery togetherness, of their united pleasure.
And so did their soccer. It turned into simultaneously rhythmic and ruthless. Even Casemiro, the always-on enforcer who permits the brazil fluidity of the front 5, brazil pinged the ball about. Thiago Silva, the savvy captain who anchors the defense, picked out Richarlison with a particular thru-ball for the 1/3 intention.
Neymar did as he thrilled. Yellow shirts streamed ahead with obvious ease. Vini chipped a clever pass to Paquetá, who volleyed domestic the fourth.
And with that, a brazil Round of sixteen healthy have become one element celebration, one element leisurely stroll.
There will, of route, be trickier demanding situations than South Korea — perhaps no longer Croatia on Friday inside the quarters however possibly the Netherlands or Argentina in the semis. The ease of Monday, even though, was Brazil’s doing. Korea had stymied Uruguay and beaten Portugal. Brazil, but, became steps above.
They waltzed to victory with global-class wingers including Antony waiting patiently on the bench or, in Gabriel Martinelli’s case, performing for a 2d-half cameo. Gabriel Jesus was unavailable. Rodrygo changed into unneeded till late on. They were so snug that Alisson, their animal-like keeper, was replaced via his backup with 10 mins to go.
South Korea pulled a purpose lower back within the 76th minute to supply its enthusiasts some deserved delight, but the brazil brazil result become never in doubt. Nor is the identity of the great crew right here in Qatar — the maximum complete brazil crew, the maximum subtle crew, the maximum proven team and quite likely the happiest, maximum exuberant team.
It’s the Brazilians. And it’s brazil unclear who can prevent them.