Casemiro rescued Brazil with the kind of strike that Neymar himself would have been proud of.
Just as the World Cup favourites appeared to be heading for only their 10th goalless draw in this tournament’s history, the Manchester United midfielder came up with a volley from the gods. A fistful of Brazilian deities were in the 974 Stadium to witness it.
Ronaldo, Kaka, Cafu and Roberto Carlos have all won football’s most glittering prize - and they recognised both the quality and importance of Casemiro’s cracker as they joined in the Samba celebrations. Neymar took to Twitter to declare the five-time Champions League winner has been "the best midfielder in the world for a long time."
The question before kick-off was whether the five-times world champions could cope without the No.10 who is supposed to find his destiny in the desert. Neymar had limped through the opening game with Serbia after being kicked from pillar to post.
He only took his leave after Richarlison had struck a stunning second goal - and has spent the last four days either having treatment or wearing a protective boot. Brazilian coach Tite will hope he’s back soon.
The South Americans certainly didn’t play like champions-in-waiting. But, as against the Serbs, they were able to produce a moment of stunning brilliance. And they did it again.
Casemiro is supposed to be Brazil’s midfield destroyer.
But he slipped his berth seven minutes from time to collect Vinicius Jnr’s pass and thrash a half-volley past Swiss keeper Yann Sommer. A slight deflection off the hip of Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji helped.
It was only Casemiro’s seventh goal for his country but it will live long in the memory.
His Old Trafford team-mate Fred had been drafted in to replace Neymar. It’s fair to say his evening wasn’t quite as successful. His first two touches went out of play and he was replaced after 56 pedestrian minutes by Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes.
Fred was walking towards the bench before his number had even come up. He wasn’t the only Brazilian to toil.
Richarlison once admitted that when he first played for Brazil he discovered a No.9 shirt that was still heavy with the legend of Ronaldo. He played like he was carrying the World Cup winner on his back before being replaced by Gabriel Jesus.
No wonder the Swiss were devastated to lose.
Murat Yakin’s team were aggressive and organised. Apart from an early Raphinha free-kick whipped across the face of goal and a perfectly-timed clearance by Nico Elvedi to prevent Lucas Paqueta’s causing damage, they kept Brazil at arm’s length.
It didn’t take long for fans who had come to watch a tsunami of goals to start performing Mexican waves.
Sommer saved well when Vinicius scuffed a volley with his knee when Raphinha had picked him out brilliantly.
But Switzerland’s growing belief was illustrated perfectly after the break when Granit Xhaka’s switch of play found Sylvan Winder and it needed some smart defending by Thiago Silva from getting a shot off from the full-back’s cross.
Vinicius had the ball in Sommer’s net when he produced a clinical finish from Casemiro’s exquisite pass from the centre-circle. But a VAR check spotted Richarlison was offside earlier in the move and the Samba beat was cut short.
Then, with Brazilian nerves twitching, Casemiro came up with his stunner.
Rodrygo could have twice sealed the outcome. The Real Madrid winger was thwarted by Akanji’s brilliant tackle before lifting a great chance too high just before the end.
