'Brazil's name is disappointing' — Trailing in the first half, frustrated in the second... 'Vinicius saved the day' — 1-1 draw with Morocco

*This content was translated by AI.

The 'eternal favorites' Brazil kicked off the World Cup with a disappointing performance.

Brazil drew 1-1 with Morocco in the opening Group C match of the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, on the 14th (Korea time).

In this tournament, Brazil was drawn into Group C alongside Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti. While advancing from the group stage is expected to be no major issue, securing first place in Group C is not guaranteed. This is because Morocco, led by coach Mohamed Ouaali, is a formidable opponent. Simply looking at the FIFA rankings, Brazil is ranked 6th and Morocco 7th — a difference of just one spot.

Morocco, considered the strongest team in Africa, is not just a dark horse but also mentioned as a surprise contender for the championship in this tournament. In the previous 2022 Qatar World Cup, they achieved their best-ever result by reaching the semifinals. In this year's African qualifiers, they secured their spot in the North American World Cup finals with an overwhelming record, including eight consecutive wins in Group E. Additionally, they won the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in January.

In contrast, Brazil reached the World Cup finals with some difficulty. They finished fifth in the South American qualifiers, where ten teams competed. Considering Brazil's reputation, this was clearly a disappointing result. However, with the number of participating nations expanding to 48 in this tournament, the number of South American slots increased to 6.5, making it reasonable to say Brazil secured their spot in the finals. Furthermore, after suffering a heavy 1-4 defeat to 'rival' Argentina in March, Brazil also dismissed former coach Dorival Junior.

Consequently, Brazil faced not only the challenge of seeking their first World Cup title in 24 years but also the task of 'restoring honor.' The team embarked on a reconstruction under world-renowned manager Carlo Ancelotti. Since Ancelotti took charge, Brazil has recorded five wins, one draw, and two losses. However, most of these victories came against weaker opponents in friendly matches. It remains difficult to say that all problems have been fully resolved. Ultimately, while Brazil extended their unbeaten record in the opening match of the World Cup group stage (16 wins, 4 draws), their underwhelming performance left a bitter taste.

Ancelotti deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation. Igor Thiago (Brentford) led the front line, while Lucas Paqueta (West Ham), Haphnia (Barcelona), and Vinicius Junior supported the attack from the second line. The midfield was handled by Casemiro (Manchester United) and Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle).

Morocco also lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Starting players included Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), known as the 'Morocco captain' and a teammate of Lee Kang-in, along with Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United) and Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid).

The first goal came from Morocco. They opened the scoring in the 21st minute of the first half. After breaking up Brazil's attack, Morocco created an immediate counter-attacking opportunity when Diaz delivered a skillful through pass near the halfway line. The Brazilian defense crumbled instantly. Moroccan striker Ismail Saibari (PSV Eindhoven) curled a delicate chip shot into the net.

Brazil found itself in trouble. The bigger problem than conceding the first goal was the inability to generate momentum. Morocco continued to create attacking opportunities, while Brazil was stifled by the opposing defense and failed to create any significant chances.

However, Brazil changed the flow with individual skill. The hero was ace Vinicius. In the 32nd minute of the first half, Vinicius burst through the opposing defense with explosive dribbling from the left flank and unleashed a powerful shot from the left side of the penalty area. The ball found the back of the net, and the score returned to 1-1.

Brazil, starting the second half at 1-1, opted for changes. Roger Ibanez (Al-Ahli) and Casemiro were simultaneously replaced by Danilo (Flamengo) and Fabinho (Al-Ittihad). This move by Ancelotti acknowledged the problems of the first half. Subsequently, in the 16th and 17th minutes of the second half, Mateus Cunha (Manchester United) and Luis Henrique (Jennet) were brought on in succession to inject variety into the attack.

Even so, the frustrating performance continued for quite some time. In the 33rd minute of the second half, Haphnia took a threatening shot, and Brazil finally seemed to benefit from the substitutions. However, the crucial additional goal did not materialize. In the 38th minute, they appeared to seize a decisive opportunity, but Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal) made a precise judgment to clear the ball first, swallowing their disappointment.

Instead, Brazil faced a crisis in the final moments of the match. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker (Liverpool) made consecutive super saves to rescue the team. Ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

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*This content was translated by AI.