Brazil's quest for a sixth World Cup title began with a 1-1 draw against Morocco, a result that has left many questioning the five-time champions' overall readiness. While a moment of individual brilliance from Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr prevented a shock defeat, the team's display in New Jersey was largely underwhelming, prompting manager Carlo Ancelotti to issue an apology for the performance.
Trailing 1-0 to a goal from Ismael Saibari, Brazil looked far from their best for extended periods. It was Vinicius Jr who stepped up, receiving a pass from Bruno Guimaraes before cutting inside and unleashing a powerful strike into the top corner. This exquisite finish, described as a 'wonder goal', not only levelled the score but also spared Brazil from losing their opening World Cup game for the first time since 1934. However, the equaliser couldn't mask what former England captain Alan Shearer, speaking to BBC Sport, called a 'ragged' performance from the South American giants.
Concerns have been raised about the squad's balance, with South American football expert Tim Vickery telling BBC Sport that 'the star [Vinicius Jr] saving the team' rather than the team creating the stars. The midfield, in particular, appeared vulnerable, with 34-year-old Casemiro reportedly struggling in the heat before being substituted at half-time. Former Uruguay and Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet also expressed surprise at Brazil's technical errors, stating to BBC Sport, 'I was surprised how bad technically they were today. I don't know if it was the pitch, maybe the pitch didn't help but they were missing passes, simple passes.'
For Carlo Ancelotti, this marked his debut as a head coach at a World Cup, a significant milestone for the 67-year-old. Despite his pre-match enthusiasm, the Italian was forced to concede, 'I am sorry we didn't play as well as we hoped.' Ancelotti, the first overseas coach to lead Brazil at a World Cup, was appointed following a challenging qualifying campaign where Brazil secured their place despite suffering six defeats in 18 games, finishing fifth in the South American qualifying table. Their latest performance will undoubtedly add to the pressure.
Despite the lacklustre start, Brazil will be looking to regroup quickly. They are still widely expected to progress from Group C, with upcoming fixtures against Haiti in Philadelphia on 19th June and Scotland in Miami on 24th June offering opportunities to improve. Ancelotti acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, 'We have to do better, that's very clear. We have to have a more balanced team and we have to be more aggressive.'
Source: BBC Sport