WORLD CUP-SOCCER: World Cup warmups: Neymar paces unbeatable Brazil

June 11, 2018 Editor 0 Comment WORLD CUP-SOCCER: World Cup warmups: Neymar paces unbeatable Brazil

Brazil’s forward Neymar (in yellow) slips the ball past Austria’s goalkeeper Heinz Lindner during the international friendly football match in Vienna Sunday evening. (AFP photo)

VIENNA: Brazil scored three superbly-taken goals to beat feisty Austria 3-0 in sweltering conditions on Sunday and put the finishing touches to their impressive World Cup preparation.

The Brazilians are undefeated in warmup matches, and now prepare for their opening World Cup match against Switzerland next Sunday (1am Monday, Thailand time).

Gabriel Jesus, Neymar and Philippe Coutinho shared the goals for the five-times champions who showed great patience in the first half as they worked to break Austria down before turning on the style after the interval.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES
Sunday’s result
Austria 0-3 Brazil
Saturday’s results
Latvia 1-3 Azerbaijan
Hungary 1-2 Australia
Estonia 1-3 Morocco
Finland 2-0 Belarus
Serbia 5-1 Bolivia
Sweden 0-0 Peru
Denmark 2-0 Mexico
Israel (cancelled) Argentina
Spain 1-0 Tunisia
France 1-1 USA
Upcoming matches
Monday (Thailand time)
South Korea vs Senegal, 8pm
Tuesday (Thailand time)
Belgium vs Costa Rica, 1.45am
Japan vs Paraguay, 8.05pm
Poland vs Lithuania, 11pm

Neymar started a game for the first time since injuring his metatarsal in February, although he played in the second half of last week’s win 2-0 over Croatia when he celebrated his return with a goal.

It was also the first time the quartet of Neymar, Jesus, Coutinho and Willian had started a game together.

Austria, unbeaten in their last eight games and winners over Germany one week ago, proved uncomfortable opponents and had nothing to lose in front of a capacity 48,500 crowd, having failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Neymar, substituted in the 83rd minute, was on the receiving end of some rough challenges and needed treatment after a tackle from behind from Aleksandar Dragovic who was booked.

With the temperature hot enough for water breaks, tempers frayed as Casemiro replied with a rough tackle of his own.

Marko Arnautovic gave Brazil a couple of early frights before the South Americans went ahead in the 36th minute, Jesus scoring with a delightful dinked effort from a difficult angle after Marcelo’s shot rebounded to him.

It was his 10th goal in 17 internationals.

Neymar’s goal in the 63rd minute was even better as he collected the ball on the left of the area, performed a drag-back which left Aleksandar Dragovic on the floor and sent his shot between goalkeeper Heinz Lindner’s legs.

That goal pulled him level with Romario’s total of 55 international goals, making him Brazil’s third joint top-scorer after Pele and Ronaldo.

Six minutes later, substitute Roberto Firmino set Coutinho clear down the left and he curled his shot wide of Lindner in for the third.

Brazil open their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 17 (1am on June 18, Thailand time) and also face Costa Rica and Serbia in Group E.