Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino scored Brazil's second goal in the 90th minute. After Casemiro put the ball in the penalty box, Firmino controlled with his chest and sent the ball over Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic to step up his challenge for a starting position in the team.
Brazil captain and No 9 Gabriel Jesus was not as impressive in the first half of the match, and was replaced by Firmino after an hour. The same Liverpool supporters who cheered Firmino went out of their way to jeer Coutinho, who left the Reds for Barcelona earlier this year.
Until Neymar stepped on to the pitch, Croatia had the best opportunities in a match that seemed headed for a dull draw. Defender Dejan Lovren had their best chance with a header that grazed Brazil goalkeeper Alisson's right post after a corner.
The five-time champions play their last pre-World Cup friendly against Austria on June 10.
• Peru captain Paolo Guerrero scored twice in a 3-0 win over Saudi Arabia in a World Cup warm-up yesterday on his comeback, three days after a Swiss supreme court ruling put his doping ban on hold.
Guerrero looked every bit the inspirational leader Peru campaigned to clear for action at their first World Cup finals appearance in 36 years.
Peru already led 1-0 when Guerrero followed up to score from close range in the 41st minute after an initial shot was saved.
Guerrero's header from Andre Carrillo's cross in the 64th minute brought more adulation from a partisan Peruvian crowd in neutral St Gallen, Switzerland, near both teams' training camps. Carrillo opened the scoring with a stunning left-foot volley in the 20th minute.
Guerrero could yet have to complete a 14-month ban imposed by the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport for his positive test for metabolites of cocaine at a World Cup qualifying game last October. Still, a Switzerland Federal Tribunal judge said last week the ban should not apply until Guerrero's appeal is heard in full after the World Cup.
• Spain and Switzerland played out a 1-1 draw in a warm-up match in Villarreal. Spain were in control from the start but couldn't capitalise on their chances and paid the prize after a second-half blunder by goalkeeper David de Gea.
Alvaro Odriozola opened the scoring for the hosts with a neat volley from just outside the area in the 29th minute. Ricardo Rodriguez equalised for the Swiss in the 62nd minute after De Gea dropped the ball in front of goal while trying to hold on to a weak shot from inside the area.
The result kept Spain unbeaten in 19 matches since coach Julen Lopetegui took over after the 2016 European Championships.
Spain weren't at full strength as defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets was dropped from the starting line-up after falling ill with gastroenteritis.
Real Madrid players also weren't fully available after reporting late to the squad because of the Champions League final. Sergio Ramos, Isco and Dani Carvajal didn't even travel for the match in Villarreal, although Nacho Fernandez, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez were second-half substitutes.
- AP
