2018 FIFA World Cup: Brazil and Switzerland Draw in Tense Match

Published 06/17/2018, 4:11 PM EDT

In a 2918 FIFA World Cup performance that won’t calm many nerves among its supporters, Brazil’s outstanding group of attackers produced quite a few scoring opportunities but only one goal in a disappointing 1-1 draw with Switzerland.

Neymar was hoping to prove that he was still dangerous coming off the broken foot he sustained in February. However, he turned in a largely forgettable performance punctuated by a few bright moments in attack.

It seemed like his off night was compensated for when Philippe Coutinho sent a gorgeous, curling shot off the goalpost. The beautiful goal came in the 20th minute to give Brazil a lead that it seemed eager to build upon.

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But with a disciplined defensive showing and a few forays into the front by Xherdan Shaqiri, Switzerland held firm. And in the 50th minute, a Brazilian defensive lapse (and a bit of a shove) on a corner kick gave the Swiss the moment they needed, with Steven Zuber nodding a ball past Alisson from right in front of the net.

Hoping to avoid becoming the first Brazilian squad since 1978 to fail to win its World Cup opener, the South Americans steadily cranked up the pressure and peppered the Swiss goal with shots, finishing with 21 shots to Switzerland’s 6.

But too few (five) of Brazil’s shots were on target, and Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer came up with several impressive stops, including a diving save of Roberto Firmino’s header just before stoppage time, to preserve the result.

Brazil on Wednesday faces Serbia in a crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup encounter. Serbia are the current Group E leaders after their win over Costa Rica. The latter will take on Switzerland in another important group-stage match the same day.

Here is how social media reacted to the gripping match between the two nations.

i’m getting pissed at you folks shitting on #Neymar because the swiss literally attacked him, pulled back his shirt, tripped him violently, and the judge did nothing. the only goal that Sui scored was a foul. ffs, menino ney played really well with all the fouls on him. #BRAxSUI
— b 💙🦈🇧🇷 (@binathebean) June 17, 2018

Spain – Draw
Argentina – Draw
France – Lucky Win
Germany – loss
Brazil – Draw
Favorites struggle #WorldCup #BRAxSUI
— Oscar dos Santos Sousa (@OscarMayerWienr) June 17, 2018

Everyone who says Neymar was just falling for the sake of falling WATCH THIS. Switzerland played really dirty. They were killing Neymar on that field. #BRASUI #BRAXSUI #WorldCup that referee should be fired. #Brazil #Brasil #Neymar #notfair #FiretheReferee pic.twitter.com/B0zEakVcNY
— Nora (@NoraKarakashian) June 17, 2018

If this is not a penalty, I don’t know what is #BRAxSUI pic.twitter.com/H50UgKzRph
— Bella (@_IsaaSooares) June 17, 2018

Is this your king? #BRAxSUI #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/xmEK2P1l8T
— Shelby (@Bfacemwape) June 17, 2018

If swiss wants to win a cup like that than they should just order it from China rather than winning it with cheating and the referee shouldn’t be allowed in any other game. Swiss grabbed, pulled and hugged Brazilian from behind like they were in swinger party #BRAxSUI
— Musa Baramkhail (@MusaBaramkhail) June 17, 2018

Switzerland every time Neymar touched the ball today. #BRAxSUI pic.twitter.com/pjozZbteiL
— LsPXxv (@Lsp_Xxv) June 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/ashmorley/status/1008438403212472322

this says it all lmao its not Switzerlands fault that Neymar goes to the ground whenever someone breathes #BRAxSUI pic.twitter.com/7Zta9lc7gB
— melissa (@lcverjungkook) June 17, 2018

The arbitration of the game is absurdly wrong.
An illegal goal and a penalty not marked for Brazil, cards not given.
SO THAT THE VIDEO ARBITER SERVES THEN?#Copa2018 #VAIBRASIL #BraxSui #vemHEXA #Canarinho
— Leoní Pacheco (@leonypacheco) June 17, 2018

That Swiss sideline warm-up 😳😳😂😂#WorldCup2018 #BRAxSUI #BrazilVSSwitzerland #Switzerland pic.twitter.com/CO3Ul1s9mk
— trizz8 (@TrizEight) June 18, 2018

I am no expert but I guess Brasil should start a game without Neymar and see. The keeps the ball long enough to lose it. Tries to do a Ronaldo quite often #WorldCupRussia2018 #BRAxSUI
— Logical Dreamer (@Rohit01kalita) June 18, 2018

That's how the Brazilians would have liked it … 🤣 🇨🇭🇧🇷#SwitzerlandvsBrazil @News_SFL @neymarjr @ValonBera #BRASUI #BRAxSUI #WM2018 #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/JtI7XuViGW
— René Steiner (@renesteiner46) June 18, 2018

Back in the good old days you only got to see Brazilian players in the WC, now they are all over the Premier League which sort of makes it all seem so ordinary #WorldCup #BRAxSUI
— Duncan Holley (@DuncanHolley) June 18, 2018

Almost the entire game was like this #BRAxSUI pic.twitter.com/wqoUUQFbJz
— Beatriz Berenguer (@beaberenguer) June 18, 2018

https://twitter.com/SirIshantSharma/status/1008478462045089792

https://twitter.com/PluckyNemes/status/1008457699019907072

Brazil was robbed. That Switzerland goal was a foul. #BRAxSUI
— Country Club Chad IV (@Foxy_grandpa777) June 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/C_430/status/1008454976446877704

https://twitter.com/PluckyNemes/status/1008453541806198786

The god of football has tested ronaldo, messi and neymar in the world cup with European teams and only ronaldo has passed. G.O.A.T #BRAxSUI
— Eyimofe (@Mofe_O) June 17, 2018

Ney-Mar. Vs. Noodle-Mar #BRAxSUI pic.twitter.com/d1PnggA3dV
— BWANA Josh (@josh_mirondo) June 17, 2018

The #BRAxSUI game was 90 minutes of Neymar being a drama queen and rolling around on the ground, the Swiss players keeping their goal safe as if it was a bank account and a few exciting moments from Switzerland. 🇨🇭 Switzerland would’ve deserved to win, maybe next time ❤️😊
— 🐰🇪🇺💚🌍 (@yaayandnaay) June 17, 2018

Switzerland played so flippin’ rough and unfair!! Like Neymar kept being pushed and pulled! I’m so annoyed! #BRAxSUI
— Bella (@Bella_b96) June 17, 2018

The ref allowed the dirty playing by the Swiss team, Neymar was tackled on many many occasion and nothing was done so pissed #BRAxSUI #BRASUI
— neymar 🇧🇷 (@neymarxox) June 17, 2018

Great match #BRAxSUI 🇧🇷 🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/tEOCkROin4
— The Culprit Manifest (@CulpritManifest) June 17, 2018

#BRAxSUI I think the ref was blind pic.twitter.com/l055biFwDZ
— INLBOG (@king76582959) June 17, 2018

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https://twitter.com/suryatejavala/status/1008444194074001409

I’m pretty sure neymar spends out of 90 mins 60 of them rolling around on the floor #BRAxSUI
— J (@roy20676335) June 17, 2018

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Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Spain all were among the favourites to win #FifaWorldCup18 and so far haven't won any match. No more believing in football pundits. #BRAxSUI
— Vishwa Kadiyan (@KadiyanVishwa) June 17, 2018

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Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports, having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino.