Our 3️⃣ points as Brazil make Pelé proud with sensational performance | OneFootball

Brazil put on the kind of showing that Pelé will have undoubtedly approved of as they swatted South Korea aside in style to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

This is what we made of it.

They have arrived

Brazil got the job done against Serbia. They toiled but overcame Switzerland’s defensive set-up. And their reserves disappointed against Cameroon.

It had been a workmanlike if unremarkable start to proceedings in Qatar but make no mistake about it, the Seleçao have arrived in all of their swashbuckling Samba style.

Some of their football against South Korea was breathtaking at times and a reminder that this is often when a World Cup is at its best – with a team of outrageous attackers in yellow jerseys ripping the opposition to shreds.

The returning Neymar got his goal and created space for the excellent Richarlison, Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior by his presence alone and South Korea, not helped by their self-harming set-up, could not cope with any of them.

In this form, nobody will want to face them and Croatia can rightly be concerned about their ageing side attempting to keep the Seleçao quiet.

It was a performance that Pelé, watching on from hospital it home, would have appreciated.

Neymar moves closer to iconic status

“Fans of Argentina treat Lionel Messi like a God. Portugal fans treat Cristiano Ronaldo like a king but Brazilians are happy about Neymar’s injury,” team-mate Raphinha said last week.

“His biggest mistake was being born in Brazil. This country doesn’t deserve his talent.”

Whether that sentiment is accurate or not, it is clear that the PSG star doesn’t have the overall popularity of former Brazil strikers like Pelé or Ronaldo.

But one thing that can’t be argued against are his numbers and he added to his case for iconic status with his ice-cool penalty on his comeback to make more history.

With that goal, he becomes just the third Brazilian ever to net in three different World Cups (after the duo mentioned above) and moves to within one goal of Pelé’s international haul of 77 and his World Cup tally of eight.

Notably his last six in succession for his country have all came from the penalty spot.

Does he deserve more respect?

Excellent Alisson exits for classy touch

It isn’t often that you see a goalkeeper play an important part in a 4-1 win.

But that was very much the case for Alisson who produced some outstanding saves at different stages of this one to prevent any threat of a Korean comeback.

He made at least three elite stops to keep them at bay and there was nothing whatsoever he could do to keep out their stunning consolation – the first he has conceded of the competition.

It also isn’t often that you see a goalkeeper substituted without injury before the end of a World Cup knockout tie.

But the Liverpool man did just that when Tite brought him out with 10 minutes remaining to give third choice goalkeeper Weverton a brief cameo.

It was a touching gesture from the Brazil boss as it ensured that every member of his squad will have received some playing time in Qatar.

That is the first time that has ever happened in a 26-man squad format.