World Cup 2018, Serbia 0-2 Brazil: 3 player battles that defined the game

#1 Philippe Coutinho vs Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

Coutinho dictated terms in midfield for Brazil yet again

Philippe Coutinho continues to leave a mark on the game every time he goes out to represent his country and the game against Serbia was no exception.

The Barcelona midfielder was liberated in a free-role ahead of Paulinho and Casemiro in midfield and it did not take him too long to establish his authority on the proceedings.

The 26-year-old was pitted against another young midfielder, who has been a sensation in Europe for his club in the recently concluded domestic campaign, in the form of Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

The midfield battle was expected to be a defining one and the diminutive Brazilian came out on top with relative ease, fully expressing his abilities with the ball at his feet.

Coutinho was afforded too much time on the ball to pick the perfect pass to find Paulinho in the build-up to Brazil's opening goal of the night and from there on, he dictated proceedings down the middle of the park strictly on his own terms to re-establish himself as Brazil's MVP in this tournament.

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