Brazil sprinkle stardust on Qatar football world cup

It is pertinent to note that no World Cup can really start until Brazil plays. The magic of this most famous tournament doesn’t really reach its peak until it is sprinkled with the stardust of the Selecao.

On this one, here in Qatar, the real tournament kicks off in five days with five-time winners – and opponents Serbia – the 31st and 32nd teams to start and run their campaigns. He had top billing. After the undercard, the main event. It was never too soon for Lusail Stadium streaming in yellow, its sight and sound and the samba becoming synonymous with this grandest of stages.

The pressure on the pitch is always on Neymar. The Talisman of Talisman is certainly still the star attraction, with the mere mention of her name ahead of enough kick-offs to deafen anyone within this raucous arena. Almost the exact same age Pele was when he won his third of three World Cups, the one he wants more than any other if Brazil are to end their 20-year wait for a trophy, you think That it would still come on the strength of another supernatural power of the greatest No. 10 of all time.

If the real Brazil will go on to reveal themselves later in this tournament, as they are expected to, signs of a higher plane were still visible here, albeit a disappointing first half. The magnificence of Casemiro’s distribution, the spark of Vinicius Junior’s change of pace, the nutmeg of Neymar. Serbia, to their credit, were in no mood for fall. His place in Qatar was barely won and he fought his heart out here. Two, three and even four were deployed to shadow Neymar’s every touch, any chink in the armour, any rogue touch. Chances came and went, Vinicius and Rafinha made mistakes when a calm head would surely have prevailed. Sandro knocked over a post from afar. Neymar, the god, proved with incredibly uncharacteristic abuse that he was ultimately human. But as nerves picked up, relief finally came. Richardson would not be the first Brazilian forward name you pull from history out of thin air. He won’t even make his debut with R. But if the first goal to break the deadlock – a tap after Vinicius’ rebound shot – was not worthy of those great No. 9s of the past, his second was well and truly.

Flicking the ball and rotating it to meet his shoulder in one movement, Richardson’s sensational overhead kick volley to double the lead and decisively seal victory was as special as any World Cup goal you can think of. can do. Pay Le, Carlos Alberto, Ronaldinho. The World Cup is often remembered for Brazil’s goal. This one, too soon, may be remembered for Richardson. This tournament may be five days old, but now the World Cup can start in true sense. Brazil has arrived.

Originally published at Pen 18