Russia 0-3 Brazil
We’re all looking for looking for some handy hints in the run-up to Russia 2018, and the Samba Boys dropped a biggie by hammering Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium.
The home crowd can look forward to some fantastic football games over the summer but they won’t see many teams better than this. Brazil are one of the favourites to win the Cup, and on this showing, they’ll be a good punt. Their second-half blitz should have raised many an eyebrow among sports betting fans as they cantered to an easy win.
Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev was the busiest man on the pitch and he heroically kept the star-studded visitors at bay until halftime, keeping out efforts from Gabriel Jesus, Casemiro and Philippe Coutinho. That gave Russia confidence to attack as the half progressed, with Fyodor Smolov teeing up Aleksandr Samedov who came close with a fierce drive.
But it was a temporary respite for Akinfeev, who was forced into action immediately after the break to deny Willian and Dani Alves: Miranda eventually broke the brave keeper’s resistance on 52 minutes, converting a corner from close range. The game was over soon after when Aleksandr Golovin fouled Paulinho, and Coutinho calmly slotted home the penalty.
Paulinho made it three on 66 minutes, heading home from a Willian corner, and that was that as Russia’s defence held firm.
So what have we learned?
Well, Russia will certainly struggle to match the best teams and rely on dogged resistance. But that will never be enough against a side like Brazil. And we’ll never get tired of watching the Samba Boys.
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