Richarlison lit up the World Cup with a moment of Brazilian magic as the tournament favourites overcame Serbia's stubborn resistance to open their campaign with an impressive victory.

Brazil had to play a patient game to break down an organised Serbia rearguard but forced the breakthrough after 62 minutes when Tottenham striker Richarlison turned home a close-range finish after Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved Vinicius Junior's effort.

Richarlison's crowning moment came 11 minutes later, at first mis-controlling a pass from Vinicius but readjusting brilliantly to take the aerial route and fire home an acrobatic right-foot finish.

It was no more than Brazil - backed by the massed ranks of their yellow-clad fans - deserved as they dominated throughout, with Alex Sandro and Casemiro hitting the woodwork and Milinkovic-Savic also saving superbly from Fred.

Brazil's performance made ominous viewing for their rivals, as did the sight of Gabriel Jesus, Antony and Gabriel Martinelli coming off the bench in a powerful show of squad strength, although there was the worrying sight of Neymar going off after taking a knock.

Brazil lay down World Cup marker

Brazil arrived in Qatar accompanied by the usual huge weight of expectation that always accompanies the five-time world champions, but if it was a burden they carried it lightly here.

From the scenes of players dancing on the team bus and on their way into the stadium to their performance, Brazil looked right at home and justified the belief of many that they will be the eventual winners.

Brazil were happy to keep probing in the face of outstanding Serbian defence but once they went through the gears after half-time they were irresistible.

Serbia, who did not have a shot on target, were already creaking when Richarlison pounced for the first goal and the game was over once he scored that truly exhilarating second.

Brazil could have added more as they tore holes in Serbia's tiring defence as the game wore on but this was a hugely satisfactory night for coach Tite in so many ways.

Neymar worked hard but was quiet, although he was involved in the build-up to Richarlson's first, but Vinicius showed how impressive he can be while Casemiro ruled midfield with his usual authority.

This was not an easy game for Brazil against the side ranked 21st in the world but ultimately they were comfortable and deserved winners.

Serbia finally broken down

Serbia's gameplan was to frustrate and steal something on the counter, as demonstrated by their players receiving high fives from coaching staff as they went off at half-time with the game goalless.

The ploy was ultimately unsuccessful but they can still take plenty from their performance.

Serbia are still in with a chance of qualifying as it is hard to see anyone coping with Brazil, and they demonstrated how difficult they will be to break down in their remaining games against Switzerland and Cameroon.

That said, they could not get any worthwhile service to main striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, while Dusan Tadic was unable to exert any influence.

Serbia are well-drilled and uncompromising - if they can add in a degree of service to Mitrovic then they have the potential to advance.

Player of the match

Vinícius JúniorVinícius Júnior

Brazil

Squad number20Player nameVinícius Júnior

Squad number10Player nameNeymar

Squad number9Player nameRicharlison

Squad number5Player nameCasemiro

Squad number26Player nameGabriel Martinelli

Squad number3Player nameThiago Silva

Squad number4Player nameMarquinhos

Squad number11Player nameRaphinha

Squad number1Player nameAlisson

Squad number18Player nameGabriel Jesus

Squad number21Player nameRodrygo

Squad number6Player nameAlex Sandro

Squad number7Player nameLucas Paquetá

Squad number2Player nameDanilo

Squad number8Player nameFred

Squad number19Player nameAntony

Serbia

Squad number10Player nameTadic

Squad number9Player nameMitrovic

Squad number20Player nameMilinkovic-Savic

Squad number23Player nameMilinkovic-Savic

Squad number4Player nameMilenkovic

Squad number2Player namePavlovic

Squad number5Player nameVeljkovic

Squad number16Player nameLukic

Squad number25Player nameMladenovic

Squad number14Player nameZivkovic

Squad number8Player nameGudelj

Squad number6Player nameMaksimovic

Squad number18Player nameVlahovic

Squad number7Player nameRadonjic

Squad number24Player nameIlic

Squad number22Player nameLazovic

Line-ups

Brazil

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Alisson

2Danilo4Marquinhos3Thiago Silva6Lobo Silva

7Tolentino Coelho de Lima5Casemiro

11Raphinha10Neymar20Vinícius Júnior

9Richarlison

1Alisson2Danilo4Marquinhos3Thiago Silva6Lobo Silva7Tolentino Coelho de LimaSubstituted forFredat 75'minutes5Casemiro11RaphinhaSubstituted forMartinelliat 87'minutes10NeymarSubstituted forAntonyat 80'minutes20Vinícius JúniorSubstituted forRodrygoat 76'minutes9RicharlisonSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 79'minutes

Substitutes

8Fred12Pereira da Silva13Alves da Silva14Militão15Fabinho16Nicolao Telles17Bruno Guimarães18Gabriel Jesus19Antony21Rodrygo22de Barros Ribeiro23Ederson24Silva Nascimento25Abreu dos Santos26Martinelli

Serbia

Formation 3-4-2-1

23Milinkovic-Savic

4Milenkovic5Veljkovic2Pavlovic

14Zivkovic16Lukic8Gudelj25Mladenovic

10Tadic20Milinkovic-Savic

9Mitrovic

23Milinkovic-Savic4Milenkovic5Veljkovic2PavlovicBooked at 7mins14ZivkovicSubstituted forRadonjicat 57'minutes16LukicBooked at 64minsSubstituted forLazovicat 66'minutes8GudeljBooked at 49minsSubstituted forIlicat 57'minutes25MladenovicSubstituted forVlahovicat 66'minutes10Tadic20Milinkovic-Savic9MitrovicSubstituted forMaksimovicat 83'minutes

Substitutes

1Dmitrovic3Erakovic6Maksimovic7Radonjic11Jovic12Rajkovic13Mitrovic15Babic17Kostic18Vlahovic19Racic21Djuricic22Lazovic24Ilic26GrujicReferee:Alireza FaghaniAttendance:88,103

Live Text

Match ends, Brazil 2, Serbia 0.

Second Half ends, Brazil 2, Serbia 0.

Attempt blocked. Nemanja Radonjic (Serbia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ivan Ilic.

Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Brazil).

Strahinja Pavlovic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Hand ball by Fred (Brazil).

Foul by Gabriel Martinelli (Brazil).

Darko Lazovic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt missed. Antony (Brazil) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Marquinhos.

Substitution, Brazil. Gabriel Martinelli replaces Raphinha.

Attempt missed. Rodrygo (Brazil) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Antony.

Corner, Serbia. Conceded by Alisson.

Attempt blocked. Nikola Milenkovic (Serbia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Offside, Brazil. Raphinha tries a through ball, but Rodrygo is caught offside.

Substitution, Serbia. Nemanja Maksimovic replaces Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Corner, Brazil. Conceded by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.

Attempt saved. Fred (Brazil) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Casemiro.

Attempt saved. Rodrygo (Brazil) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Fred.

Casemiro (Brazil) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus.

Substitution, Brazil. Antony replaces Neymar because of an injury.

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