ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia - Brazil joined the list of big teams struggling to win their opening matches at the World Cup in Russia.
The five-time champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland on Sunday, a few hours after four-time champion Germany was beaten by Mexico 1-0.
Philippe Coutinho, who was making his World Cup debut, gave Brazil the lead in the 20th minute with a volley that bounced in off the right post. Steven Zuber then headed in the equalizer in the 50th. Mexican referee Cesar Ramos dismissed complaints that Zuber had shoved defender Miranda before getting to the corner from Xherdan Shaqiri.
"I was pushed out of the way. There is video of what happened and the referee could have seen it. But it didn't happen," Miranda said. "We got a draw but this is only the beginning for us. We knew this game wasn't going to be easy."
Ramos also ignored a penalty claim late in the second half when Gabriel Jesus was wrestled to the ground by Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji.
Swiss players ended up with three yellow cards, and 10 of the 14 fouls they committed were on Brazil forward Neymar.
Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic described the incident against Miranda as an "ordinary challenge." He also dismissed charges that Neymar had been treated harshly.
"Of course, neutralizing Neymar was a key ingredient of our game," he added.
Switzerland dominated the midfield for long spells against a Brazil team that had been keen to start with a win after its disastrous exit as host in 2014.
"I am proud of their determination," Petkovic said of his team. "The first 40 minutes were tough for us, and at halftime I told the players to stay cool and press forward. They did, and it worked."
Coutinho had another chance to put Brazil in the lead but he sent the ball wide in the 67th minute.
"I'm very glad to score but what was important was our effort to win and what we did as a team is what counts," Coutinho said. "We had some great moments and positive moments. Now we need to think about the next match."
SERBIA 1, COSTA RICA 0 - At Samara, Russia, with a curling free kick that decided the outcome of the match, Aleksandar Kolarov immediately drew some comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Serbia captain's left-footed strike proved to be the difference in a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica on Sunday at the World Cup. It came two days after Ronaldo scored a similar goal to give Portugal a 3-3 draw with Spain.
"It was an amazing goal," Costa Rica defender Bryan Oviedo said of Kolarov's effort. "Maybe two out 10 balls will go in like that."
After Costa Rica midfielder David Guzman was handed a yellow card, Kolarov stepped up and curled his shot over the wall and into the net in the 56th minute. Keylor Navas, the Costa Rica goalkeeper who plays for Real Madrid, stretched but couldn't stop the swerving ball.
It was the third free kick goal so far at the World Cup: Russia midfielder Aleksandr Golovin had one in stoppage time in the 5-0 tournament opener against Saudi Arabia and Ronaldo capped his hat trick against Spain with the other.
"We knew that set pieces were our forte," said Kolarov, who now plays for Roma after a stint with Manchester City. "We practiced them on the training ground. I practiced set pieces, and this was enough for three points."
The victory gave the Serbians the early advantage in a tough Group E, which also includes five-time champion Brazil and Switzerland.
"It's especially important that we have three points in the bag," Kolarov said. "The match against Switzerland is going to be the most difficult one. Of course we want to win. Let's see what the game brings. There's not much time to celebrate. We will celebrate, but up to a point. Not excessively."
The final moments of the match were marked by a squabble on the sidelines as Nemanja Matic got into a tussle with a Costa Rican assistant. Players from both teams rushed toward the scrum but it was quickly diffused. Video replay was also used late in the match to determine if Aleksandar Prijovic should be given a red card. He was given a yellow.
The Ticos were the surprise of the last World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals in Brazil before being ousted by the Netherlands on penalties. It was the furthest the small Central American nation had advanced in soccer's premier tournament.
But there was some uncertainty surrounding the team after a pair of friendly losses heading into the World Cup, including a 4-1 rout by Belgium a week ago.
"The Serbians did their homework very well," Costa Rica coach Oscar Ramirez said. "We tried to pressure them. And I think it was a tight match. We should have capitalized on our opportunities the same way they did."
Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic, who replaced Slavoljub Muslin last year, put together a veteran defense with Kolarov and former Chelsea player Branislav Ivanovic. Also included were Manchester United midfielder Matic, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who had an apparent falling out with Muslin but was brought to Russia by Krstajic.
Ivanovic made his record 104th appearance for the national team, surpassing Dejan Stankovic's mark. The 34-year-old Ivanovic had matched Stankovic's record last Saturday in a 5-1 friendly win over Bolivia. Stankovic, known as "Deki," played for the national team from 1998-2013, through three different eras: Yugoslavia, Serbia-Montenegro and finally Serbia.
GROUP DYNAMICS
Costa Rica advanced out of the group stage in Brazil with victories over Uruguay and Italy and a draw with England, but the country's players insisted in the run-up to Sunday's game that this team should not be judged on the past.
"There's always a lot of talk about four years ago, but this is a new World Cup, a new history," Costa Rica defender Giancarlo Gonzales said. "Some of us are repeating, but there are teammates who are playing their first World Cup. We know the eyes of the world are on us."
Costa Rica will next face Brazil on Friday in St. Petersburg, while Serbia plays Switzerland in Kaliningrad on the same day.
KEYS TO SUCCESS
Milinkovic-Savic gave Navas a workout in the first half, and while he didn't score, he is clearly a potent weapon for Serbia.
He challenged Navas in the 27th minute from just outside the box, but Navas fell on the ball. Navas also stopped Milinkovic-Savic's bicycle kick in front of goal in the 42nd minute, but it was ruled offside.
Currently with Italian club Lazio, rumors have swirled that Manchester United might be interested in the dynamic 23-year-old midfielder.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Ramirez did his best to raise the spirits of the Ticos following the match, but he was also realistic.
"From what I've seen in the locker room, we still believe," the Costa Rica coach said. "We know that it will be hard because we have to face Brazil and Switzerland. But who knows?"
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