Brazil has flexed its considerable muscle to move through to the Quarter Finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The five-time world champions defeated Korea Republic 4-1 with a breathtaking, beautiful and brutal first half of football in Doha.
Vinicius Junior kicked things off in the 7th minute when he slotted expertly into the top corner after controlling a cross from Raphinha.
Six minutes later and Tite’s side was two ahead through Neymar, on his return from an ankle injury, who produced a nerveless finish from the penalty spot.
A third goal was on the offing and it came just before the half-hour mark courtesy of Richarlison who did the finishing but not before some masterful build-up play involving Marquinhos and Thiago Silva.
Cue 4-0 on 36 minutes when Vinicius played a sumptuous lofted ball into the path of Lucas Paqueta who placed his volley perfectly beyond a hapless South Korean keeper Kim Sung-gyu.
Staring down the barrel of a proper shellacking, the Taeguk Warriors kept their nerve in the second half and even managed to grab a consolation goal in the 76th minute when Paik Seung-ho fired home from range after a set piece play.
However, it was nowhere near enough to dampen Brazil’s spirits who then rung the changes and ensured every player in their squad tasted some minutes at this World Cup.
Brazil’s performance, highlighted by their samba dancing celebrations, would no doubt have put a smile on the face of their greatest ever player, Pele, who continues to battle colon cancer.
They now meet Croatia in a Quarter Final on Saturday from 2am AEDT.
Zlatko Dalic’s side edged their way through to the final eight by virtue of a penalty shootout win over Japan after it ended 1-1 at the end of full-time and then extra-time.
Ivan Perisic levelled on 55 minutes after Daizen Maeda’s first-half opener prior to the shootout, which saw Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic save three Japanese spot kicks.
The 2018 finalists now find themselves in the last octet some four and a half years after succumbing to France in Moscow.
The final two Round of 16 fixtures take place on Wednesday morning - Morocco v Spain (2am AEDT) and Portugal v Switzerland (6am) - with the two winners to face off in the last of the four Quarter Finals.