Brazil secured an easy 3-0 win over Scotland to comfortably claim the top spot in Group C, booking their place in the Round of 32 with a total of seven points (2-0-1). Vinicius Junior set the pace early on, hitting the back of the net in the opening minutes by exploiting a blunder in the Scottish defense.
The Brazilian side’s celebrations were cut short in the 22nd minute when Vinicius scored what appeared to be his second, only for VAR to disallow the goal due to a foul on Jack Hendry in the buildup.
However, deep into first-half injury time, the Real Madrid attacker successfully claimed his brace, converting a cross from Bruno Guimarães with a well-placed header.
Brazil piled more misery on Scotland in the second half, with Cunha striking in the 60th minute to net the team’s third goal.
The encounter was also highlighted by Neymar’s return to action, as he took the pitch in the 75th minute following a prolonged absence from the national team.
After a bumpy start to their World Cup journey, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have bounced back effectively with two straight victories, proving to be a formidable threat as they head into the knockout stage.
Who is Brazil’s Next Opponent in the Round of 32?
Brazil is slated to go head-to-head against the runners-up of Group F in the Round of 32. This elimination match will take place on Monday, June 29, at NRG Stadium (Houston Stadium).
With Group F still a tight race between the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden, Brazil’s upcoming opponent will likely be one of these three countries. The second-place finisher will head to Houston to clash with Brazil, whereas the side with the better goal differential will lock down the top spot in the group to book a Round of 32 matchup against Morocco.
As it stands, the Netherlands and Japan are tied for the top two positions with four points each. Sweden is close behind in third place, trailing the leaders by a single point, while Tunisia languishes at the bottom of the table after suffering back-to-back losses.
