Brazil moved into the World Cup knockout stage with a comfortable 3-0 win over Scotland. Vinicius Junior scored twice and Matheus Cunha added the other goal in Miami.
Vinicius struck in the seventh minute. He scored again just before the break to give Brazil full control. He has now scored in all three group matches.
The Real Madrid forward has four goals in the tournament. He is level with Erling Haaland of Norway and Kylian Mbappe of France. Only Lionel Messi has scored more with five.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said winning matters more than playing attractive football.
“We are working to play the best that we can,” Ancelotti said.
“But the goal is not to play well. We know that playing well is easier to win, but the goal is to win. If we win the World Cup, we played well. If we don’t win the World Cup, we played really bad.”
The biggest moment of the night came late in the match. Neymar returned to action in the 76th minute after missing Brazil’s first two games with a right calf injury.
The crowd in Miami welcomed him warmly. Fans began chanting his name as he warmed up on the touchline. They cheered loudly when he stepped onto the pitch.
The 34-year-old is Brazil’s all time top scorer with 79 goals in 130 international matches. He has now played in four World Cups for his country.
Neymar’s place in the squad has been widely discussed in recent months. He has struggled since suffering an ACL injury in October 2023. He has scored four goals in eight games for Santos this season.
Vinicius was delighted to see his teammate return.
“A very important moment for all of us,” Vinicius said.
“Our idol is back, a guy who always fought hard and did everything to be here, returning after a spell out with injury. I hope he can keep evolving and keep improving, helping us throughout the competition. That’s what matters most.”
Scotland were playing in their first World Cup since 1998. Their supporters, known as the Tartan Army, created a lively atmosphere in Boston and Miami throughout the tournament.
The Scots have still never reached the knockout stage after nine World Cup attempts.
Brazil, meanwhile, have now reached the knockout rounds for the 15th straight World Cup.
