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Agence France-Presse

Coach Tite blamed first night nerves after Brazil’s bid for a sixth World Cup got off to a rocky start as Switzerland withstood an early onslaught to snatch a 1-1 draw in Rostov-on-Don on Sunday.
On the day when holders Germany were shocked 1-0 by Mexico, Brazil’s tag as pre-tournament favourites looked justified in a dominant first-half capped by Philippe Coutinho’s wonder strike to open the scoring.
Moscow taxi driver ploughs into crowd, hurting two Mexican soccer fans
However, Brazil paid for their failure to kill the game off when Steven Zuber powered home an equaliser from Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner five minutes after the break.
The pressure will now be on Brazil to kick-start their campaign when they face Costa Rica on Friday.




The stalemate left Tite unimpressed.
“I’m not happy with this result. Our finishing wasn’t good. We had 20 chances, but too many shots were off target. We should have made their keeper work harder than that,” he said.
“I put it down to stress, first match nerves, that’s true for me too.”
He added: “Up to their goal, I was satisfied. We were moving well. Then they raised their game, and it took us 10 minutes to regain our rhythm. But once again, our finishing wasn’t good.”
Toothless Germany can’t find a way past Mexican wall in World Cup thriller
His Swiss counterpart, Vladimir Petkovic, had an understandably more upbeat assessment of the game. “I’m proud of my lads. I hope this will mean we are taken seriously,” he said.
“Sometimes, there is a lack of recognition and that is a pity,” he added. “Playing against Brazil and Spain, we demonstrated we could react, that this team always believes in itself and can get results. We will continue to play with this consistency.”

Switzerland have lost only one out of 12 competitive matches since Euro 2016 – a World Cup qualifier away to Portugal.
“I hoped that we would do what we didn’t against Portugal, that we would play our game and try to impose our way of playing,” he said.
“I think the team has shown great determination and I’m very, very happy.”
Earlier, Serbia beat Los Ticos 1-0 to move to the top of Group F.
Astonishing South Korean race claims and Swedish 'spying' dominates build-up
Coutinho had been handed a central role behind Neymar, on his first competitive game for four months, Gabriel Jesus and Willian in a line-up filled with attacking intent.
The five-time world champions went about their task of erasing the memories of a 7-1 thrashing by Germany on home soil four years ago purposefully early on.
Paulinho passed up a glorious chance when his scuffed effort from close range was turned behind by Yann Sommer.

It seemed a matter of time before Brazil’s pressure paid dividends and the opener arrived in stunning style on 20 minutes.
Barcelona’s record signing picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and in trademark fashion bent the ball crashing in off Sommer’s far post.
Neymar looked bright despite his lack of match practice as he teased the Swiss defence provoking yellow cards for Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fabian Schar and Valon Behrami.
Captain Kolarov fires Serbia past Costa Rica in fiery encounter
However, Brazil failed to build on their lead as Thiago Silva and Jesus headed off target from dangerous corners and were made to pay early in the second-half.
Switzerland had offered barely any attacking threat before levelling when Zuber took advantage of a gaping hole in the heart of the Brazilian defence to head home Shaqiri’s corner.

Forced back onto the front foot, Brazil turned to Neymar for a moment of inspiration but he could only blast into the side-netting before Coutinho sliced wide with a much simpler opportunity than the one from which he opened the scoring.
Brazil were unhappy that Zuber wasn’t penalised for a slight push on Miranda for the equaliser and felt hard done by again when Jesus tumbled under a challenge from Manuel Akanji inside the area with Mexican referee Cesar Ramos unmoved.
Diego Maradona does not deny making racist gesture to South Korean fans
Tite’s men ended as they had begun with a series of chances for a late winner as Neymar and Roberto Firmino headed straight at Sommer before Miranda dragged a shot inches wide.
And deep into stoppage time Schar’s outstretched leg turned a goalbound effort from Silva wide as Switzerland held out for a vital point.
﻿Reuters contributed to this report.



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Fifa World Cup 2018

Brazil’s ‘first-match nerves’ lead to 1-1 draw against Switzerland in World Cup debut

‘I put it down to stress, first match nerves, that’s true for me too,’ said Brazil’s coach, Tite

(180617) -- ROSTOV-ON-DON, June 17, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Roberto Firmino (1st R) of Brazil heads the ball to score during a group E match between Brazil and Switzerland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 17, 2018. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (Xinhua/Li Ga)

(180617) -- ROSTOV-ON-DON, June 17, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Fernandinho (L) of Brazil vies with Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland during a group E match between Brazil and Switzerland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 17, 2018. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (Xinhua/Li Ga)

(180617) -- ROSTOV-ON-DON, June 17, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Roberto Firmino (R) of Brazil reacts during a group E match between Brazil and Switzerland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 17, 2018. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

Fans of the Swiss soccer team (seen at a public viewing area at Turbinenplatz Square) celebrate after their team drew against Brazil on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

South Korean race claims and Swedish 'spying' dominates World Cup 2018 build-up in Nizhny Novgorod

South Korean head coach Shin Tae-yong attends a training session in Nihzny Novgorod. Photo: EPA

epa06815598 South Korea’s players attend a training session at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Russia, 17 June 2018. South Korea will face Sweden in a group F preliminary round soccer match of the FIFA World Cup 2018 on 18 June 2018. EPA-EFE/RITCHIE B. TONGO EDITORIAL USE ONLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Sweden's defender Andreas Granqvist (L) and Sweden's coach Janne Andersson attend a press conference at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod on June 17, 2018 on the eve of the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F football match between Sweden and South Korea. / AFP PHOTO / Dimitar DILKOFF

epa06815594 South Korea’s players attend a training session at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Russia, 17 June 2018. South Korea will face Sweden in a group F preliminary round soccer match of the FIFA World Cup 2018 on 18 June 2018. EPA-EFE/RITCHIE B. TONGO EDITORIAL USE ONLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Fifa World Cup 2018: Germany and Brazil step onto the stage in Russia with Neymar primed to shine

Fans of Brazil gather in central Moscow. Photo: EPA

Elias de Souza Aguilar, and his son Elias de Souza Jr perform on their bike which they rode from Brazil to Russia in front of Rostov arena in Rostov-on-Don, Russia June 16, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

epa06813610 Brazil's national soccer team forward Neymar reacts during a trinaing session on the eve of the group E match between Switzerland and Brazil of the FIFA soccer World Cup 2018 at the Rostov Arena, in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 16, 2018. EPA-EFE/LAURENT GILLIERON EDITORIAL USE ONLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY

epa06813709 Germany's head coach Joachim Loew (C) attends a training session in Vatutinki sport base outside Moscow, Russia, 16 June 2018. Germany will face Mexico in the FIFA World Cup 2018 Group F preliminary round soccer match on 17 June. EPA-EFE/SERGEI ILNITSKY EDITORIAL USE ONLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Fifa World Cup: Serbia captain Aleksandar Kolarov free kick sees side edge Costa Rica at Russia 2018

Serbia's Aleksandar Kolarov celebrates after the match. Photo: Reuters

Referee Malang Diedhiou, left, from Senegal and the fourth official Bamlak Tessera Weyesa from Ethiopia go between Costa Rica and Serbia players as they argue during the group E match between Costa Rica and Serbia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Samara Arena in Samara, Russia, Sunday, June 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

The fourth official Bamlak Tessera Weyesa, center, from Ethiopia goes between Serbia's Nemanja Matic, left, and Costa Rica's goalkeeper coach Luis Gabelo Conejo, right, during the group E match between Costa Rica and Serbia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Samara Arena in Samara, Russia, Thursday, June 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Serbia's Aleksandar Kolarov celebrates with after scoring the opening goal during the group E match between Costa Rica and Serbia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Samara Arena in Samara, Russia, Sunday, June 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Fifa World Cup 2018: navigating the maddening Moscow Metro is driving football fans to despair in Russia

A train featuring designs aimed at promoting the World Cup in Russia is seen at a subway station platform in Moscow. Photo: Kyodo

Commuters depart in a metro train from Park Culture station in Moscow, Russia, June 15, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/ Kai Pfaffenbach

A sign at a Moscow Metro station

A Moscow Metro station

Manuel Neuer powerless to stop Mexico as El Tri beat Germany in Bayern Munich goalkeeper’s return to soccer at World Cup

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer walks past celebrating Mexico players. Photo: AP

Germany's forward Julian Draxler (C) vies for the ball with Mexico's midfielder Hector Herrera (L) during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F football match between Germany and Mexico at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 17, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Juan Mabromata / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS

Mexico's Carlos Salcedo and Miguel Layun, kneeling on the ground, celebrate at the end of the group F match between Germany and Mexico at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

A Mexico fan cries as celebrates winning the group F match between Germany and Mexico at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 17, 2018. Mexico won Germany 1-0. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Sport

Football

‘I put it down to stress, first match nerves, that’s true for me too,’ said Brazil’s coach, Tite


Brazil’s ‘first-match nerves’ lead to 1-1 draw against Switzerland in World Cup debut

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}‘I put it down to stress, first match nerves, that’s true for me too,’ said Brazil’s coach, Tite

.css-jfmysa{display:inline;word-break:break-word;}.css-1ankfgb{cursor:pointer;display:inline;word-break:break-word;}Moscow taxi driver ploughs into crowd, hurting two Mexican soccer fans

‘I put it down to stress, first match nerves, that’s true for me too,’ said Brazil’s coach, Tite

Moscow taxi driver ploughs into crowd, hurting two Mexican soccer fans