The players who started in the UEFA Champions League final a week before were all on the field from the start. On the Brazilian side, except for Neymar, they played with the best force with the captain's armband being Gabriel Jesus.
Although considered to be better, Selecao was also the team that controlled the game somewhat better in the first half. However, their attack played relatively deadlocked. The most notable opportunities that Brazil created were shots from a distance but the ball did not hit the target.
Their ability to attack the ball is also limited by Croatia's high-level pressing play. With the active approach of the red and white team, the Brazilian defense sometimes had moments of lack of concentration. Fortunately for Brazil, Croatia could not take advantage.
In addition, the European team mainly attacked on the right wing, aiming to exploit Marcelo's position. Singer Luka Modric moved quite freely in the Croatian lineup.
The most dangerous opportunity in the first half belonged to Croatia. Dejan lovren's header in the 13th minute sent the ball close to the goal along the opponent's goal.
At the beginning of the second half, Coach Tite sent Neymar onto the field. This was the striker's first match since being injured while playing for PSG in March. However, he soon made a difference for the Selecao attack.
He opened the scoring in the 69th minute. Neymar fired a powerful shot into Subasic's goal after a skillful handling.
Croatia did not play as well as the first 45 minutes. They let Brazil maintain the attacking rhythm they wanted. The faces that coach Zlatko Dalic put on the field in the second half did not leave any significant impression.
In that context, Brazil scored another goal in the last minute of injury time in the second half. Casemiro hung the ball into the penalty area. Firmino, after controlling the ball, eliminated the Croatian defender who crossed the ball over Subasic's head into a goal.
After this 2-0 victory, the Brazilian national team will also play a friendly match with Austria at 9:00 p.m. on June 10, Vietnam time before reaching the VCK World Cup 2018. As for Croatia, they will have another test match against Senegal on June 8.
Lineups: Brazil (4-3-3): Alisson; Danilo, Thiago Silva, Miranda (Marquinhos 65), Marcelo (Filipe Luis 59); Willian (Taison 81), Casemiro, Fernandinho (Neymar 45); Paulinho, Gabriel Jesus (Firmino 59), Coutinho (Fred 82).
Croatia (4-2-3): Subasic; Vrsaljko (Jedvaj 87), Corluka (Caleta-Car 52), lovren, Vida; Badelj (Brozovic 60), Rakitic (Bradaric 82); Rebic (Pjaca 63), Modric (Kovacic 58), Perisic; Kramaric.
