Brazil beat Serbia 2-0 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium to begin their World Cup campaign with a win. Earning three points is always the priority, but Brazilians will be concerned with the performance, especially in the first half. 

Richarlison scored twice in the second half to provide victory for the South American side. It was a superb performance from the Tottenham Hotspur striker, with pundits around the world now labelling him as 'Brazil's golden boy'.

It was a spirited performance from Serbia, but they lacked the final edge to deliver a positive result for their fans.

Here are four things we learnt from Brazil's win over Serbia:

  • Brazil's golden boy

Brazil have had some of the greatest footballers of all time over the years. The likes of Pele, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo have pulled on the famous South American shirt. Richarlison is now the new golden boy of Brazil due to his consistent performances for his country.

The striker's first goal was a typical poacher's finish. Vinicius Junior's initial shot was parried away by Milinkovic-Savic, but it fell directly to the former Everton striker who tapped it in from close range. It was brilliantly positioning from the 25-year-old who was delighted to score his first-ever World Cup goal.

The second goal was a stark contrast from the goal. Vinicius Junior whipped in a sensational cross into the danger area, before Richarlison controlled the ball and fired it into the top left corner via a scissor kick. It was a sensational strike from a sensational striker.

  • Neymar's struggles

Before the tournament began, it was being billed as Neymar's last chance to win the World Cup. Neymar is one the greatest players of the generation but has failed to deliver at the World Cup in his career.

Against Serbia, the superstar struggled to break down the tough Serbian defence. The Paris Saint Germain striker lacked fluidity with Richarlison and Raphinha in the final third. Neymar completed zero successful dribbles in Qatar, which highlighted his struggles on the pitch.

To add salt to the wounds, Neymar went off injured in the 79th minute. At first, it seemed like a minor injury, however, later inspection suggested it could be more serious. The former Barcelona footballer took a heavy blow to the ankle, which left him in tears on the bench whilst he was receiving ice. After all his injury struggles in his career, it would be heartbreaking to see him miss another tournament.

  • Serbia's defensive solidarity

It was a spirited performance from the European side. They held the South American side comfortably in the first half with defensive structure and solidarity. Although this tactic collapsed in the second half, it was a performance Dragan Stojkovic's side should be proud of.

A key reason for this was due to the performance of Strahinja Pavlovic, who was key to the defensive structure. The 21-year-old, who plays for Red Bull Salzburg, is highly regarded by pundits across Europe. 

Although his positional awareness was poor at times, his height and strength were key to his performance. It was an impressive performance from the young defender, who clearly has a bright future ahead of him. His partnership with Nikola Milenkovic across the back three provided a strong base for his country, and it will be crucial for their upcoming matches.

  • Lacking a clinical edge

Serbia have been tipped to be the dark horse of the World Cup. The squad is full of talent, including the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. However, against Brazil, Serbia struggled to create clear-cut chances when they had the ball. The European side had just 41 per cent possession, which meant it was key that they were efficient in the final third.

Nevertheless, Mitrovic failed to combine with his attacking counterparts, which meant the underdogs rarely threatened Allison. The Fulham striker was isolated up front, with Dusan Tadic providing little support for the aggressive striker. 

Serbia have two key matches left in their attempts to qualify for the World Cup knockout stages. Against Switzerland and Cameroon, they must improve their efficiency in the final third. Otherwise, they will have their World Cup dreams destroyed by their own doing.