Coutinho-Paulinho connection carries Brazil into the last 16
Paulinho and Thiago Silva were on target as Brazil beat Serbia 2-0
Brazil are into the last 16 as group winners, where they will meet Mexico, after beating Serbia 2-0 on Wednesday.
Barcelona's Paulinho and Paris Saint-Germain's Thiago Silva scored the goals but it wasn't always straightforward.
The Seleção made a quick start at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow without really coming close to opening the scoring.
Serbia gradually grew into the game but found themselves behind in the 36th minute when two Barça players combined.
Philippe Coutinho, who scored in each of Brazil's first two games, played one of the passes of the tournament to pick out Paulinho, who lifted the ball over Vladimir Stojkovic.
Despite being ahead, Brazil found themselves under the cosh in the early stages of the second half.
A win for Serbia would have sent them through at the expense of Brazil and, for a while, they had a good go at getting the two goals they needed to turn things around.
However, they lacked efficiency in the final third, with Aleksandar Mitrovic missing their best chance, his header from point-blank range saved.
Serbia's hopes then disappeared when PSG defender Silva headed home Neymar's cross to double Brazil's lead.
In the group's other game, Costa Rica twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Switzerland.
Blerim Dzemaili gave Switzerland the lead before Kendall Watson leveled for Costa Rica.
Josip Drmic looked to have won it for Switzerland when he scored in the 88th minute but there was more late VAR drama.
Costa Rica had a penalty call taken off them before winning another spot kick minutes later, which Bryan Ruiz sent across the bar, with the ball then bouncing off goalkeeper Yann Sommer on its way in.
Switzerland, with Brazil, progress to the last 16, where they will play Sweden.
