Brazil grab top spot in Group E with 2-0 win over Serbia

The latter two combined superbly just before the half hour mark, but Neymar's curled shot from a tight angle was tipped away by Stojkovic. The pair again showed uncanny understanding when the No. 9 ran onto Neymar's pass and cut onto his favored right foot before his shot was blocked.

Serbia's best chance of the first half came when Aleksandar Mitrovic sent a bicycle kick over the bar after Dusan Tadic's cross from the left.

Brazil finally took the lead in the 36th minute when Paulinho latched onto Coutinho's lofted 30-meter pass and lifted the ball over Stojkovic.

It was nothing less than Brazil deserved, having dominated for long periods of the first half.