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Reuters

Sport

Richard Martin

Coutinho scorcher not enough as Brazil held 1-1 by Swiss

Soccer Football - World Cup - Group E - Brazil vs Switzerland - Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia - June 17, 2018 Brazil's Philippe Coutinho in action with Switzerland's Breel Embolo REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

ROSTOV-ON-DON (Reuters) - Brazil joined the host of big guns who have failed to fire in their opening World Cup game as lax defending from a corner allowed Switzerland to cancel out Philippe Coutinho's spectacular curling strike and grab a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

The five-times world champions took a deserved lead midway through the first half in the Group E game when Coutinho's irresistible long-distance shot cannoned in off the far post, but Tite's side, who had looked so impressive in the tournament build-up, did not build on their advantage.

Soccer Football - World Cup - Group E - Brazil vs Switzerland - Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia - June 17, 2018 Brazil's Neymar, Philippe Coutinho, Thiago Silva, Miranda and Marcelo look dejected at the end of the match REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

The highly organised Swiss hit back early in the second period from one of their few chances as Brazil's Casemiro and Miranda switched off and the unmarked Steven Zuber barely had to leave his feet to nod in Xherdan Shaqiri's whipped corner.

Brazil went all out in pursuit of a winner and came agonisingly close to finding it as Coutinho and Miranda lashed wide from inside the area while Neymar and substitute Roberto Firmino were denied by Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

They had to settle for a point and joined fellow tournament favourites Germany, Spain and Argentina in failing to win their first game.

Soccer Football - World Cup - Group E - Brazil vs Switzerland - Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia - June 17, 2018 Brazil's Neymar looks dejected at the end of the match REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

It was also the first time Brazil had not won a World Cup opener since drawing 1-1 with Sweden in the 1978 tournament.

"I was expecting to get a victory so, of course, I'm not happy with the result," Brazil coach Tite told a news conference.

"At this stage of a World Cup you have to take advantage of a goal and see that your opponents are taking risks and you need to have faster transitions."

Soccer Football - World Cup - Group E - Brazil vs Switzerland - Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia - June 17, 2018 Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri in action with Brazil's Neymar REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Tite did not complain that his side were denied a penalty when Manuel Akanji wrapped his arms around Gabriel Jesus and had little sympathy with claims some of his players had been fouled when Switzerland levelled.

"I can't coach a team who complains. You can interpret the penalty in any way but there's no way you can complain," he added.

Neymar's flamboyant blond 'spaghetti' haircut certainly caught the eye although he only gave glimpses of the spectacular dribbles and plays he is renowned for and which led Paris St Germain to shell out 222 million euros for.

Soccer Football - World Cup - Group E - Brazil vs Switzerland - Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia - June 17, 2018 Brazil's Roberto Firmino has a shot at goal as Switzerland's Fabian Schar attempts to block REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

WHIRLWIND FINISH

Instead, Brazil's second most expensive player, Coutinho, pulled the strings, constantly finding right winger Willian and drifting striker Jesus with sweeping passes although Switzerland managed to deal with the threat.

Soccer Football - World Cup - Group E - Brazil vs Switzerland - Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia - June 17, 2018 Brazil's Roberto Firmino reacts after a missed chance to score REUTERS/Darren Staples

Coutinho's whirlwind finish delighted the Rostov Arena, where yellow-shirted Brazil fans vastly outnumbered the red of the Swiss, although Tite's side failed to build further momentum, as Neymar was frequently stopped in his tracks by tactical fouls.

Brazil always looked in control until they ceded a corner and Zuber took full advantage of their collective lapse of concentration to level.

Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic was delighted with how his side followed his gameplan.

Soccer Football - World Cup - Group E - Brazil vs Switzerland - Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia - June 17, 2018 Brazil's Marcelo in action as Switzerland's Haris Seferovic looks on REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

"I am very proud of my team's discipline, it was everything we talked about," he said.

"I hope that people will take notice of us now and take us seriously, sometimes there's a lack of recognition towards us and that's a pity because we played very well."