Brazil netted three goals in 13 second-half minutes to beat Russia 3-0 in their international friendly clash at the Luzhniki Stadium on Friday afternoon.
After a frustrating first half that saw the Selecao restricted mainly to long-range attempts, an unlikely source in Miranda opened the scoring 53 minutes in.
Philippe Coutinho then added a second from the penalty spot, before Paulinho rounded things off in Moscow with a header from five yards out.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the international friendly meeting between Russia and Brazil at the Luzhniki Stadium. This showdown in Moscow pits together this summer's World Cup hosts against the last nation to hold the quadrennial competition, with the days now ticking down until the latest edition gets underway at this very ground.
Visiting boss Tite has vowed to use these spring friendlies as a chance to experiment with his squad, and that was always likely to be the case after losing star man Neymar to a foot injury recently. The Paris Saint-Germain forward is now in a race against time to be fit for this summer's finals, yet a quick glance at the other options available suggests that the Selecao will likely do just fine even if he fails to reach peak fitness in time.
TEAM NEWS!
RUSSIA XI: Akinfeev; Samedov; Kutepov, Granat, Kudryashov, Kombarov; Glushakov, Zobnin; Golovin, Al. Miranchuk; Smolov
BRAZIL XI: Alisson; Alves, Silva, Miranda, Marcelo; Paulinho, Casemiro, Coutinho; Willian, Jesus, Douglas Costa
Just to emphasise that previous point I made, this Brazil lineup oozes quality from front to back even in the absence of their star performer. Alisson is the man given the nod in goal, having impressed once again at club level for Roma this term to become arguably the most in-demand goalkeeper on the planet ahead of the summer transfer window - this will be his 23rd cap for the Selecao.
There is a familiar look to Brazil at full-back, as Dani Alves and Marcelo are given starts at the Luzhniki Stadium - two experienced campaigners who are needed more than ever due to the recent withdrawals from the squad of the talented Alex Sandro and Filipe Luis. Alongside them, two more experienced pros in Miranda and Thiago Silva are given a chance to prove their worth in one of a handful of remaining friendlies prior to the World Cup.
It is little wonder that Brazil as so highly fancied when looking at their depth in midfield and attack, with Paulinho and Casemiro - arch-rivals at club level with Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively - selected to connect defence with the attack line. Philippe Coutinho, Willian and Douglas Costa are selected to play just off Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus, who is assured of a place come the meeting with Switzerland come June 17.
This is one of the rare occasions in which Thiago Silva and Miranda have been paired together in the backline, but that aside, as well as the absence of Neymar, you have to say that this is an extremely strong Brazil starting lineup. Douglas Costa is arguably the man to watch this afternoon, as it is he who is vying for a place in the side once Neymar returns from injury, which he is expected to do so in around six-or-seven-weeks' time.
There are a handful of recognisable faces in the Russia XI, meanwhile, most notably Igor Akinfeev between the sticks. Despite being aged 31, the CSKA Moscow stalwart has already racked up 103 caps, having made his senior international bow 14 years ago. An injury for him this close to the World Cup would be as close to a disaster as you could get. At the opposite end of the field, Fyodor Smolov leads the line.
Smolov is on course to finish top of the Russian Premier League scoring charts for a third game running and will lead the line for the host nation this summer. After bagging a couple in the 3-3 draw with Spain in November, he is the one for Silva and Miranda to watch out for today. There is no place in the starting lineup, or indeed the squad, for Zenit St Petersburg forward Aleksandr Kokorin due to a knee injury.
Russia have been hit by a number of injury issues, in fact, as Georgiy Dzhikia and Viktor Vasin are both long-term absentees, while Berezutsky twins Alexei and Vasily rejected the chance to come out of retirement to lend a hand. Experimentation, whether he wanted to or not, is therefore the order of the day for boss Stanislav Cherchesov. Also missing today are Alan Dzagoev, who burst onto the scene at Euro 2012, and Denis Cheryshev.
Despite being without arguably his star performer in Neymar, Brazil boss Tite still has an array of riches to call upon not just in attack but also at the back. As talented as the back seven are, including Paulinho and Casemiro, all eyes will be on the star-studded forward line today which is comprised of Douglas Costa, Philippe Coutinho, Willian and Gabriel Jesus.
We are now just 82 days away from the start of the 2018 World Cup, so preparations in the part of the world are very much in full swing. Tournament hosts Russia carry the weight of a nation on their shoulders which, as witnessed in Brazil four years ago, is not always a good thing. They are currently ranked at 63rd in the FIFA rankings; a slight increase on their lowest-ever ranking of 65th a few months back.
That drop down the rankings can partly be explained by their lack of competitive fixtures over the past couple of years, having been handed an automatic berth for this summer's finals on home soil. Their last competitive match did not end all that well, though, as they were taken apart by Wales in Toulouse, going down 3-0 in that final Euro 2016 group-stage match to finish bottom and exit the competition early on.
It goes without saying that a huge improvement is needed from Sbornaya, as they are known in these parts, if they are to appease their supports on home soil in a few months' time. They have not fared too badly in their friendlies since Euro 2016, in fairness, most recently playing out that 3-3 draw with Spain in St Petersburg. Russia battled back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to earn an impressive result.
Cherchesov's men also played out a 3-3 draw with Belgium a year ago, so they certainly know how to grind out results against some of the big nations. There have also been draws against Chile and Iran in that time, but they have fallen to defeats at the hands of Argentina, Ivory Coast, Costa Rica and, most disappointingly of all, next World Cup hosts Qatar. Still room for improvement, then!
Russia now face Brazil and France over the next four days with the hope of building on those previous impressive results against Belgium and Spain. The step up in quality in terms of their opponents this month sets them up nicely for a couple more friendlies later in the year, before the real things gets under way in 82 days' time - the start of the 2018 World Cup at this very venue.
Group A is comprised of Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay - by no means an easy group but certainly not as difficult to escape from as some of the others. It all begins with a meeting against unknown quantity Saudi Arabia here on June 14, before taking on Egypt in St Petersburg and then Uruguay on June 25 in Samara - that is assuming they finish constructing the ground in time!
Progression through to the knockout stages is the target for Russia, but if they make it that far they will likely come up against one of Portugal or Spain - good luck with that! Sbornaya did also compete in the Confederations Cup last summer, lasting just three matches before being knocked out in the group phase. An opening-game win over relative minnows New Zealand was followed up by defeats to Portugal and Mexico.
The man in charge these days is Stanislav Cherchesov, who took over shortly after Leonid Slutsky made way from his caretaker role at the end of Euro 2016. The former Legia Warsaw boss has won five, drawn five and lost six of his games in charge so far, giving him a win rate of a little over 30%. As mentioned a little earlier, however, Russia did hold Spain and Belgium to high-scoring draws.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! These two sides have met on five previous occasions and Russia have yet to claim a win. Brazil have won three of those encounters, including the only competitive fixture at the 1994 World Cup in the United states. They most recently faced off five years ago this week when Fred scored a late equaliser for the Selecao at Stamford Bridge.
While making it past the first knockout stage will be seen as a big achievement for Russia on home soil this summer, Brazil have far bigger ambitions - winning the whole thing. Anything less, in fact, will be considered a huge disappointment, especially after the disaster that was in Belo Horizonte four years ago. Five-time winners of the competition, the Samba stars are now looking to make it six.
Brazil are currently second in the FIFA rankings, which admittedly is not always the greatest barometer to determine how well a team is going to perform at a major competition. The bottom line, though, is that they are second favourites with pretty much every bookmaker, behind only holders Germany, to go all the way in a few months' time. That would just about make up for what happened in their home World Cup four years ago.
Brazil showed exactly what the pressure can do to you when they suffered a humiliating 7-1 loss at the hands of Germany in Belo Horizonte - it was 5-0 after half an hour, to give it some context. The target is still very much the same, though - Tite has got to take his side all the way and lift the famous trophy for a sixth time in their history. The man in charge has enjoyed big success so far, instilling a winning spirit during his time at the helm.
The Selecao cruised through the qualifying process with 12 wins and just one loss from their 18 matches, giving them a 10-point lead over closest challengers Uruguay and 15 on Peru in fifth. Taking friendlies into account, it is just two defeats in 26 since October 2015, with one of those coming against Argentina in a summer friendly Down Under. Brazil are therefore considered in good shape with a matter of weeks to go before the World Cup begins.
Since the qualifiers came to an end, Brazil have defeated Japan 3-1 and drawn 0-0 with England at Wembley Stadium. Without Neymar in their ranks, Tite's men have a couple of different tests to overcome during the next four days as they take on tournament hosts Russia and fellow favourites Germany - what a match that should be; the first meeting between the heavyweight nations since that match nearly four years ago.
Brazil also have friendlies pencilled in against Austria and Croatia later in the year, all in preparation for their World Cup group matches against Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia - no wonder that they have lined up friendlies against a couple of European sides so close to the finals. It is worth mentioning that Tite's charges are on a collision course with Germany, who they could face in the first knockout round if things go badly.
Brazil are without Neymar today, then, but they still have an array of options to choose from. On top of Coutinho, Douglas Costa, Willian and Gabriel Jesus, who all start today, they also have a bench that contains - including players from other positions - Ederson, Fagner, Marquinhos, Pedro Geromel, Ismaily, Fernandinho, Fred, Renato Augusto, Anderson Talisca, Taison, Roberto Firmino, Willian Jose
It goes without saying, then, that Brazil should make it deep into the finals. Germany, France and Spain also have strength in depth, while Argentina and Portugal can hold claim to having the two best players on the planet. We will not learn much about the Selecao from this one friendly - they could lose 6-0 and would still be heavily backed - but it does give the manager a chance to look at various different combos.
With kickoff at the Luzhniki Stadium now less than five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Stanislav Cherchesov: "We're not complaining about anything. Fate is often testing us in various ways but we always try to be ready."
Tite: "Neymar is irreplaceable. Douglas Costa cannot replace him. He will play like Douglas Costa. I demand Casemiro play the same role he plays at his club, Real Madrid. The same can be said of Coutinho. He already played at Liverpool as he plays with us. What I will not do is suppress his ambition."
Cherchesov was talking there specifically about the mounting injury problems that he has had to contend with, as well as losing one player to an alleged doping violation. No doubt that the hosts have their work cut out this afternoon, especially with Tite naming such a strong starting lineup. Expect a fair few of the back-up players to be introduced at some point, too.
KICKOFF! After a stirring rendition of the two anthems, we are now up and running in the Russian capital of Moscow. The visitors are sporting their changed blue strip this afternoon for the first time - and a beauty it is, too!
The home side made up exclusively of players plying their trade in the Russia Premier League, most notable long-serving CSKA Moscow keeper Igor Akinfeev who skippers his side today. Alisson, meanwhile, captains the visitors.
Marcelo gets down the flank but is unable to find teammate Gabriel Jesus in the middle. Five-time world champions Brazil completely dominating possession in the early stages, with Willian the latest to bomb down the right-hand side to no avail.
SAVE! First chance of the afternoon falls the way of Gabriel Jesus, who takes down a ball over the top but does not really make clean contact with his shot from eight yards, which Akinfeev keeps out down low with his legs.
A promising start to the match for the visitors, who have dominated possession and created that one promising chance for Jesus. Rather than the 4-2-3-1 I predicted, the Selecao appear to be in more of a 4-3-3 with Coutinho in a deeper position.
Dani Alves with a pretty shocking effort from range, which was never going to test Akinfeev. Brazil continuing to probe away, with their opponents yet to really get the ball into the other half of the field. Could be a long afternoon for them!
A bad challenge on Gabriel Jesus leaves the Man City striker in a little pain, but he looks as though he will be able to shake it off. Prior to that, Russia had a corner which came to little - set-pieces will be their best route through today.
We have now reached the 15-minute mark at the Luzhniki Stadium and, that Jesus chance aside, Brazil have been unable to do a great deal with the ball in the final third. Plenty of time remaining for all of that to change, of course!
Another pretty bad challenge, this time on Marcelo, also goes unpunished. Russia certainly looking to use force to stop their opponents finding a route through to goal, which is working a treat at the moment with 17 minutes on the clock.
SAVE! A second save of the contest for experienced stopper Akinfeev to make, but this was far simpler than the one a little earlier to thwart Jesus down low. Casemiro with the shot from range, which was easily dealt with.
Brazil remaining patient on the ball, knowing that they will surely find a way through eventually if the game continues to pan out in this manner. Alisson had to be alert a few moments ago as he was closed down with the ball at his feet.
Akinfeev still with just that one real save to make, which is still a lot more than Alisson has had to contend with at the opposite end of the field. The hosts showing a bit more about themselves now, though, having won another corner kick.
Willian with a bullet of a shot from 20 yards which was blocked on its way through to goal - possibly by one of his own teammates. Brazil with some nice football in the opposition half, but a breakthrough goal has so far eluded them.
Bar the early defensive error when Jesus was played onside, Russia have looked pretty solid at the back. The centre of the park is very congested, making it hard for the visitors to thread the ball through for their striker.
SAVES! Philippe Coutinho with one of his trademark curlers towards the top corner, but he does not get it entirely right and Igor Akinfeev was there to collect. Willian then with an angled drive which is again fairly easily dealt with.
SAVE! A first save of the afternoon for Alisson to make in the Brazil goal - he will not mind that, as he will want to prove himself once again in the famous shirt. Aleksey Miranchuk's shot from range was hit far too central.
SAVE! Real danger for Brazil after giving the ball away in midfield. Russia hit their opponents on the counter and, once the ball was worked to Aleksey Miranchuk, the attacking midfield sent a deflected shot on target for Alisson to palm over.
A number of saves made at both ends in a pretty frenetic five-minute period, although ultimately it remains goalless with 10 minutes to go until half time. Got to say, Russia have performed well on the whole by mixing defence with the odd attack.
Douglas Costa takes on the shot, despite the angle being massively against him, and can only find the side-netting of Akinfeev's goal. The Juventus winger perhaps trying a little to hard to make an impact on what is a big afternoon for him.
CHANCE! The best chance of the match so far falls the way of Aleksey Miranchuk, who is growing more and more into the match. Smolov played a key part, getting in behind down the left and cutting it back for his teammate, who lifted his shot over the bar from six yards.
SAVE! All very frustrating for Brazil's attacking players at the moment; they have bodies galore in the final third but cannot create a killer chance. Willian with another shot, which once again is easily dealt with by Akinfeev.
This has been a good first-half test for Tite's side, who have been on top but have struggled when it comes to carving their opponents open. Only once have they done so, and that Gabriel Jesus miss early on is now looking a little more important.
On the basis of the last six or seven minutes, Russia have actually looked the more dangerous. For all Brazil's probing, and the numerous shots on target, Akinfeev has had just one serious stop to make. Half time now a few moments away.
HALF TIME: RUSSIA 0-0 BRAZIL
Willian gets his head on the end of a corner but, to pretty much epitomise this first-half showing from Brazil's point of view, it was aimed right at Akinfeev. The visitors have had by far the more efforts on target, but Russia have more than held their own and will argue that they deserve to go into the break all square.
For all Brazil's attempts in the first half, racking up six on target alone, only once did they truly look like finding a way through. That came seven minutes in when Gabriel Jesus controlled a ball over the top, only to lack the conviction needed in the subsequent shot to get the better of Igor Akinfeev.
Casemiro then had a shot kept out from range and Philippe Coutinho's curler from the edge of the box was also easily dealt with by Russia's 104-cap keeper. Brazil continued to probe away in search of an opener, with Willian seeing three fairly tame efforts dealt with, but the hosts more than held their own in a defensive sense as they restricted their opponents mainly to long-range shots.
Russia, seeking a first win against Brazil in six attempts, may even have taken a lead into the break as Alisson twice kept out Aleksey Miranchuk, and the attacking midfielder also skied a chance from seven yards. An entertaining first half at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on the whole, and the match is set up nicely for the second 45. Will we see any changes at the break?...
RESTART! We are back under way in Moscow, a little later than anticipated for some reason or other. There does not appear to have been any changes made by either manage at the midway point, so we can expect some alterations come the hour mark.
SAVE! Brazil's best move of the match so far, with Douglas Costa spraying the ball out to Willian, who in turn laid it on nicely for Paulinho. The midfielder's shot was saved down low by Akinfeev, and Coutinho sent the rebound over the crossbar.
The visitors with a bit more impetus in the early stages of the second half. That was up until a few moments ago, at least, because Casemiro smashed the ball high into the stands - and that takes some doing - with his shot from 30 yards.
SAVE! This has been a lively match right from the off. Brazil continuing to see more of the ball, and they really should be ahead as Akinfeev has just produced a superb reaction stop to keep out Willian's deflected drive from inside the area.
GOAL! RUSSIA 0-1 BRAZIL (MIRANDA)
On his 44th outing for Brazil, Miranda nets just his second goal. An unlikely source, with the centre-back firing home a rebound from a couple of yards out after Akinfeev parried Thiago Silva's header into the Atletico Madrid man's path.
Russia boss Cherchesov would have been delighted with the way the opening 45 minutes went, but Brazil had been knocking on the door since half time and have their reward with that rare Miranda goal. The hosts now have to attack a little more.
The World Cup hosts made a change shortly after going a goal behind, bringing on Dzagoev for Miranchuk, who looked very lively towards the end of the first half. An hour has now been played, so expect Tite to alter things slightly in due course.
MISS! This one is going down as a miss, rather than a save, because Paulinho has somehow failed to tap home from six yards. Coutinho did very well and squared the ball to his teammate, who somehow got the ball trapped under him and could only pick out Akinfeev.
GOAL! RUSSIA 0-2 BRAZIL (PHILIPPE COUTINHO, PEN)
Aleksandr Golovin gives away a clear penalty for pulling down Paulinho inside the box, allowing Philippe Coutinho to tuck the resulting penalty into the bottom corner of the net. Anton Miranchuk is now on for Denis Glushakov.
GOAL! RUSSIA 0-3 BRAZIL (PAULINHO)
Paulinho, guilty of missing a close-range sitter earlier in the half, makes it three by heading home Willian's cross. Good play from the Chelsea forward, charging to the byline and managing to pick out his teammate with a chipped pass.
After such a promising first-half display, Russia have completely crumbled in this second half. Three goals in 13 minutes for the visitors, starting with Miranda's close-range finish and culminating in that Paulinho header a few moments ago.
SAVE! Good response by Russia to going three down, with the ball being worked to Dmitri Kombarov to get a shot away on target. Allison makes his latest stop, doing well to not only keep it out but also keep hold of it.
BRAZIL SUB! Paulinho has been taken off with a little under 20 minutes left to play, replaced by Renato Augusto who is currently plying his trade in the Far East. Roberto Firmino was brought on for Gabriel Jesus a couple of minutes earlier.
Plain sailing for Brazil now, then, having been made to work very hard in the first half. This can go down as another test passed for Tite's men, who are second favourites to go all the way at the World Cup in a few months' time.
Douglas Costa with a cross into the middle, which Akinfeev gobbles up down low. Just the two changes made by Tite so far; Russia have made four, with Yuri Zhirkov the latest to be introduced. Dmitri Kombarov is the man to make way at wing-back.
OFF THE LINE! Thiago Silva with a goal-line clearance, but Anton Miranchuk really should have been putting away the rebound. Rather than tapping it over the line, he tried to chest it and Miranda was there to blast it clear. A let-off for Brazil.
Had Anton Miranchuk converted that chance, which he really should have done so, we would have had more of a contest on our hands. As it is Brazil, who have just introduced Taison and Fred for Willian and Coutinho, are cruising their way over the line.
It is looking like being a job well done for Brazil, having scored three goals early in the second half to kill the game off. Work for Russia to do, while the Selecao now head into their prestige friendly with Germany with even more confidence.
SUBS! Russia have now used all six of their available subs by bringing on Igor Smolnikov and Aleksandr Erokhin over the last few minutes. A couple of changes for the visitors, too, as Pedro Geromel and Fagner are brought off the bench.
Dzagoev with a chance to pull one back for the Russians, but his free kick was rather disappointing. Now into the final few minutes of the match in Moscow, and we can expect around three minutes or so to be added on at the end.
A positive enough display this afternoon from Brazil's point of view, having produced a more clinical second-half display to get the job done. They will face tougher tests than this, namely the meeting with Germany in four days' time.
We are into the first of three added-on minutes at the Luzhniki Stadium. The visitors just remaining professional now, looking to keep their clean sheet intact. Russia would love a consolation, but they do not look like find one.
FULL TIME: RUSSIA 0-3 BRAZIL
Three second-half goals for Brazil earns them a rather comfortable 3-0 win over World Cup hosts Russia in Moscow. After a frustrating first half that saw the Selecao restricted mainly to long-range attempts, an unlikely source in Miranda opened the scoring 53 minutes in. Philippe Coutinho then added a second from the penalty spot, before Paulinho rounded things off with a header from five yards out.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the Luzhniki Stadium. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while coverage from the international friendly between the Netherlands and England will be available soon. Thanks for joining!
