It was Brazil that entered this World Cup as favourites to win the tournament, having steamrolled their way to the top of the CONMEBOL qualifying group with just one defeat in 18 matches, scoring 41 goals and conceding just 11. As their opening fixture with Switzerland got underway in Russia, it seemed like the team that all neutrals wanted to see had arrived, turning on the style right from the start versus their functional opponent.
As Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho curled a beautiful free-kick in the 20th minute, it seemed like it was business as usual for the Selecao, with many wondering exactly how many this free-flowing side would put past their hapless opponent. However, Switzerland would dig in, determined not to roll over, their tenacious Coach Vladimir Petkovic a stubborn customer indeed.
Hard work from this Swiss in breaking up Brazil’s play would pay off on 50 minutes as Steven Zuber headed home to level the scores, complaints from the opposition of a push on defender Miranda very much falling on deaf ears. As we previously saw with Uruguay, Argentina and Germany, talented sides on paper have struggled to break down determined opponents, and there was one man in particular for Switzerland who worked tirelessly to stifle Brazil.
At 33 years old, former Watford and West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami was hardly the most glamourous name on the teamsheet on Sunday evening. The journeyman started his career with Lugano in his native Switzerland, before spells with Genoa, Hellas Verona, Napoli, Fiorentina, Lazio and Hamburger SV in addition to the aforementioned stints in the Premier League.
Yet Behrami – now at Udinese – was handed the most important of tasks versus Brazil, the midfield enforcer instructed to keep star man Neymar quiet throughout the match. This was no straightforward feat, he successfully broke up the play, hardly putting a foot wrong in his own passing game.
"Most of the duels were won in a very clean way," insisted Switzerland boss Petkovic to BBC Sport after the match. "It was one of the key ingredients to neutralise Neymar. When we are able to play forward and press higher up we were able to do it well and it is an excellent starting position for the rest of our group matches.”
While the Coach was correct in his assessment, Behrami would eventually have to be substituted on 71 minutes following an inevitable yellow card after one too many fouls, but a look at the midfielder’s statistics proves exactly how effective he was.
The Udinese man recovered the ball on no less than 11 occasions and was not once dispossessed, yet completed six from seven tackles, two interceptions, one block and one clearance. After neutralising the opposition, he would not waste possession either, completing 41 from 44 passing attempts, a figure that included all seven in defensive areas and three from three in the attacking third.
Of course, Switzerland must step up their attacking prowess if they are to beat Serbia in what will be a key clash in Group E next Friday, but their positive result versus Brazil will go a long way to earn them qualification to the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, Brazil must work out how to break down sides who look to stifle them, especially if others look at Behrami’s performance as an example of how to contain the obvious threat they pose. With the results in the first round of matches, this group looks to be shaping up as one of the most exciting in the tournament with two games still left to play.
