Brazil's Marcelo, center, challenges Russia's Igor Smolnikov, left, and Aleksandr Erokhin during an international friendly soccer match between Russia and Brazil at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 23, 2018. (Photo: AP)
A string of second-half goals helped a Brazil side deprived of talisman Neymar to an emphatic 3-0 friendly win over World Cup hosts Russia in Moscow on Friday.
After several missed chances in the first half, Brazil's Miranda finally broke the deadlock by tapping in a rebounded shot past goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev in the 53rd minute.
Philippe Coutinho doubled Brazil's lead with a penalty kick less than 10 minutes later. The playmaker's Barcelona team mate Paulinho quickly added another in the 66th minute, expertly heading a flawless cross by Willian into the back of the net.
Russia take on France next week, while Brazil face Germany for the first time since their humiliating 7-1 loss to the European side on home soil in the 2014 World Cup semi-final.
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