World Cup: Brazil and Switzerland progress to knockouts from Group E

Brazil has defeated Serbia to top Group E at the FIFA World Group, with Switzerland also progressing to the knockout stage by drawing with Costa Rica.

Brazil's Gabriel Jesus, left, fights for the ball with Serbia's Nemanja Matic during the group E match

Brazil's Gabriel Jesus, left, fights for the ball with Serbia's Nemanja Matic during the group E match Source: AAP

Brazil comfortably reached the World Cup last 16 after Paulinho and Thiago Silva scored in each half to give them a 2-0 win over Serbia who were eliminated on Wednesday.

The five-times world champions finished top of Group E with seven points and will face Mexico in the second round. Serbia ended in third place with three points.

Paulinho broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when he timed his run perfectly to reach Philippe Coutinho's lofted through pass and flick the ball over goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.




Serbia forward Aleksandar Mitrovic had two excellent chances to equalise with close-range headers in the second half before Brazil defender Thiago Silva sealed the game with a near-post header from a corner in the 68th minute.

Switzerland made sure of a place in the last 16 of the World Cup but had to survive some anxious moments in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Costa Rica .

The Swiss will meet Sweden in St Petersburg on Tuesday after Blerim Dzemaili opened the scoring with a close-in blast in the 31st minute but only after Costa Rica had twice struck the woodwork in the opening 10 minutes.

Already eliminated, Costa Rica finally got their first goal of the tournament when centre back Kendall Waston headed home a 56th minute corner.

But the Swiss went back in front through Josip Drmic two minutes from time, only to give away a stoppage time penalty from which Bryan Ruiz hit the crossbar before the ball struck the back of goalkeeper Yann Sommer for an equaliser.



Matches to come

Senegal v Colombia 12am AEST Friday 

Japan v Poland 12am AEST Friday 

England v Belgium 4am AEST Friday 

Panama v Tunisia 4am AEST Friday 


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Source: Reuters, SBS


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World Cup: Brazil and Switzerland progress to knockouts from Group E | SBS News