Steven Zuber’s thumping header secured a surprising draw for
Switzerland in their opening Group E game against the
World Cup favourites
Brazil.
Philippe Coutinho gave Brazil the lead with a stunning first-half strike, but they were denied an opening win.
The Brazil coach, Tite, left nothing to chance as he rolled out his big guns for their opening clash, naming a front four of Philippe Coutinho, Willian, Neymar and Gabriel Jesus, with Roberto Firmino among the substitutes waiting in the wings.
His Switzerland counterpart, Vladimir Petkovic, set his side up with Granit Xhaka and Valon Behrami sitting in front of his back four and Xherdan Shaqiri operating from the right side of a three behind lone striker Haris Seferovic.
It took Coutinho just 20 minutes to announce his arrival at the finals in style when he smashed Brazil into the lead. Collecting a clearance 22 yards out, he took a touch before curling a superb shot beyond the goalkeeper Yann Sommer to give his side a 1-0 advantage at the break.
Switzerland got themselves back on level terms within five minutes of the restart. Zuber thumped home a header from Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner with the Brazilians calling for a free-kick for a push on Miranda.
