- Brazil advance to World Cup quarterfinals with 4-1 victory over South Korea.
- Neymar scores in his return after two-game absence due to an ankle injury.
- Brazil advance to face Croatia in Friday’s quarterfinal clash at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil, with Neymar back in the lineup, accelerated to a 4-1 victory over South Korea on Monday, advancing to face Croatia in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Brazilian fans flooded Stadium 974 after Neymar’s return from a two-game absence due to an ankle injury.
Only one goal separates Neymar, who scored from the penalty spot after Vinicius Junior’s early opener, and Pele, who scored 77 times for Brazil.
The 82-year-old Pele, who was hospitalised to a hospital in Sao Paulo on Tuesday to continue treatment for colon cancer, watched from his hospital bed.
Richarlison’s brilliant goal that put Brazil up 3-0 before Lucas Paqueta added another before half-time, both of which were celebrated with dance routines as Brazil’s supporters yelled their approval, is likely to have been among his favourites.
The Koreans were able to get one back thanks to Paik Seung-effort ho’s when the Brazilians slowed down, but by that point the Brazilians had already started thinking about Friday’s quarterfinal matchup with 2018 runner-up Croatia.
That Brazil scored four goals in a World Cup quarterfinal game was the first time they had done it since 1998, and it should serve as a reminder to their opponents that they want to defend their crown for a sixth time.