Sport
World Cup 2022: Brazil impress with win over Serbia but concern over Neymar injury — as it happened
Keep up with the count as votes are tallied in the Victorian state election
For the latest flood and weather warnings, search on ABC Emergency
Brazil defeats Serbia 2-0, thanks to Richarlison's second-half brace, following Portugal's 3-2 win over Ghana.
See how the action unfolded in our blog.
To leave a comment on the blog, please log in or sign up for an ABC account.
By Dan Colasimone
Thanks for joining us again.
Keep an eye out later for our wrap of the first round of group games.
By Dan Colasimone
Here's what's coming up overnight (and remember the key group game for Australia, against Tunisia, is at 9pm Saturday night. All times AEDT.
9pm — Wales vs Iran
12am — Qatar vs Senegal
3am — Netherlands vs Ecuador
6am — England vs USA
By Dan Colasimone
There will be an asterisk over this impressive win after Brazil's star man Neymar came off in the 80th minute with what appeared to be an ankle knock.
It followed a savage tackle from Nikola Milenkovic, and it's especially concerning because it's the foot Neymar has had trouble with previously.
He was seen on the bench crying, with his ankle taped, and pulled his shirt over his head as doctors applied ice.
He went into the locker room limping and with a swollen ankle.
If Brazil are winning the World Cup they'll lean heavily on that man, so I'd say about 200 million people will be anxious to hear updates.
Brazil doctor Rodrigo Lasmar did not speculate on the extent of the injury, saying Neymar's condition would be evaluated.
"Let's see how he responds," Lasmar told Brazilian media. "We have started with the treatment but we need to be cautious and be patient. It's too early to say anything. We'll see how it progresses."
Vinicius said: "[Neymar] took a hit but hopefully he is OK. He will do everything to be with us. He is our most important player."
Neymar had a series of injuries since the 2018 World Cup but arrived in Qatar in good form. At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, his tournament ended with a back injury in the quarterfinals against Colombia, when he had to be taken off the field on a stretcher.
The 30-year-old Neymar has yet to win a major title with the national team. He helped the "Seleção" win the 2013 Confederations Cup and its first Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
With 75 goals for the national team, he is two shy of Pelé's scoring record.
With AP
By Dan Colasimone
By Dan Colasimone
Brazil cement their favouritism for this tournament with that convincing win over a very good Serbia side.
Richarlison had a quiet game aside from the two goals – the second of which was quite brilliant.
Serbia had 0 shots on target in the end, compared to Brazil's 10, so despite a closely fought first half, the South Americans ended up dominating.
By Dan Colasimone
It's basically Brazil peppering the Serbian goal now and the Europeans doing their best to keep the score down.
Goal difference could prove vital when it comes to qualification for the next round. A 2-0 loss to this Brazil side probably isn't too bad.
By Dan Colasimone
82' Brazil 2- 0 Serbia
Casermiro with the looping attempt after some dazzling passing on the edge of the area.
It's nice when your hard-man midfielder is also highly skilled and capable of scoring goals, isn't it?
Now the subsititute Fred forces a save from the keeper with a shot from range.
Serbia just looking to keep the score down now.
22-3 attempts at goal at this point.
By Dan Colasimone
78' Brazil 2 – 0 Serbia
I said this was a huge test for Brazil and they've passed with flying colours. Serbia are a top, top side, and Brazil have not only dominated, they've managed the game exceptionally well, and look to be heading for a win.
Worryingly at the moment, Neymar is down with a knock.
By Dan Colasimone
Sensational goal, and that's 2-0.
Vinicius cut into the box and fired a heavy cross to Richarlison in the middle, his first touch popped it up behind him and he executed an athletic spinning kick to smash it past the keeper.
Epic.
The Brazilians are dancing now.
By Dan Colasimone
As I mentioned, this will be the most likely path to goal for the Serbs. Brazil couldn't clear the ball for a bit, but Serbia can't quite find the finish.
Vlahović is on the pitch now, who offers just that kind of threat.
It's good to see Serbia pushing for an equaliser, though, rather than just sitting back and letting Brazil come at them.
By Dan Colasimone
68' Brazil 1 – 0 Serbia
Neymar and Vinicius looked certain to score, with acres of space to run into. Somehow Neymar ended up on the ground and Vinicius slipped as he tried to shoot.
By Dan Colasimone
Neymar made a run into the box, the ball fell to Vinicus who fired at goal from an angle – the keeper parried and Richarlison was there to fire home the rebound.
It comes after a period of sustained pressure from Brazil. Serbia eventually cracked.
Brazil 1 – 0 Serbia.
Richarlison has been quiet for a while, but he showed his poacher's instincts there.
By Dan Colasimone
That's the closest Brazil have come.
The defender found himself in space and had a pop from distance. It looked to be going in but rebounded off the post.
By Dan Colasimone
60' Brazil 0 – 0 Serbia
They end up with a corner, which Brazil will be extremely wary of.
Some big boys in that Serbian team. The South Americans deal with the threat this time.
By Dan Colasimone
56' Brazil 0 – 0 Serbia
It feels inevitable now that Brazil will score, as Neymar fluffs a fantastic chance from right in front.
The cross came in quickly and he couldn't sweep it into the net.
By Dan Colasimone
51' Brazil 0 – 0 Serbia
This feels like one of those passages that ends in a goal, with Serbia a bit flustered in defence.
They'll need to settle things down quickly if they want to stay in this game. A bit of possession will help.
By Dan Colasimone
50' Brazil 0 – 0 Serbia
Very cynical, deserved yellow, as Neymar is cut down as he strides towards goal.
Now Brazil have a free kick on the edge of the area.
Neymar lines it up – and hits the wall.
By Dan Colasimone
Back to the game, and it's Brazil on the attack early in the second half.
By Dan Colasimone
Meanwhile, disturbing developments in Iran.
Iran arrested a prominent former member of its national team on Thursday over his criticism of the government as authorities grapple with nationwide protests that have cast a shadow over its competition at the World Cup.
The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported that Voria Ghafouri was arrested for "insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government."
Ghafouri, who was not chosen to go to the World Cup, has been an outspoken critic of Iranian authorities throughout his career. He objected to a longstanding ban on women spectators at men's soccer matches as well as Iran's confrontational foreign policy, which has led to crippling Western sanctions.
More recently, he expressed sympathy for the family of a 22-year-old woman whose death while in the custody of Iran's morality police ignited the latest protests. In recent days he also called for an end to a violent crackdown on protests in Iran's western Kurdistan region.
The reports of his arrest came ahead of Friday's World Cup match between Iran and Wales. At Iran's opening match, a 6-2 loss to England, the members of the Iranian national team declined to sing along to their national anthem and some fans expressed support for the protests.
The protests were ignited by the Sept. 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman arrested by the morality police in the capital, Tehran. They rapidly escalated into nationwide demonstrations calling for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. The western Kurdish region of the country, where both Amini and Ghafouri are from, has been the epicenter of the protests. Shops were closed in the region on Thursday following calls for a general strike.
Iranian officials have not said whether Ghafouri's activism was a factor in not choosing him for the national team. He plays for the Khuzestan Foolad team in the southwestern city of Ahvaz. The club's chairman, Hamidreza Garshasbi, resigned later on Thursday, the semiofficial ILNA news agency reported, without elaborating.
AP
By Dan Colasimone
Only one minute of stoppage time – old school.
Despite the scoreline, this match has the quality and feel of a semi-final.
What a huge test for Brazil early in their campaign. To their credit, they have looked the better side, against very good opposition.
Serbia look happy to sit back and force Brazil to pry them open.
Vinicius and Neymar have looked the most likely to do that, though Richarlison has had some good moments down the right.
Fascinating encounter, well poised at the break.
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.
This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
