Brazil World Cup Review: Old Problems Return as Future Questions Begin

Brazil World Cup Review: Old Problems Return as Future Questions Begin Brazil’s World Cup campaign began with a bit of scepticism about how they might perform after a bizarre qualifying campaign and mixed results heading into the tournament. Things like a 3-2 loss to Japan, a 1-1 draw with Tunisia, followed by a defeat to France, meant Brazil came into the tournament with plenty of uncertainty surrounding how they would perform, and the fans were hopeful, although there was far less expectation than in recent years. Their preparations for the tournament kicked off with a 6-2 victory over Panama, which lifted the mood a bit, but their defensive fragilities were still evident in that match. A 2-1 victory over Egypt followed before they began their World Cup campaign with a game against Morocco, where they drew 1-1. Morocco were probably the better side, and Brazil’s doubts before the tournament appeared to be justified. Then things began to improve for Brazil as they battered Haiti 3-0 with goals from Matheus Cunha and Vinícius Júnior. A solid defensive display and a ruthless attack gave Brazil hope, especially against Scotland, where they once again weren’t at their brilliant best, but were able to rely on moments of quality to capitalise on mistakes. A brace from Vinícius Júnior and another goal from Cunha saw them enjoy another 3-0 victory and another clean sheet. However, it wasn’t the most pleasing of performances for Brazil. Despite that, they still produced a very dominant attacking display, registering an xG of 4.34 compared to Scotland’s 1.05. It was the type of performance associated with Carlo Ancelotti, where they could win the game by flicking a switch to turn it on when needed and punish any mistakes made by their opponents, which seemed to be perfect heading into the knockout stages. There, they first took on Japan, and it looked very nervy for the Brazilians when Kashui Sono opened the scoring. Brazil responded by bombarding Zion Suzuki’s goal, but couldn’t find a way through until the 56th minute. Casemiro levelled things before Gabriel Martinelli scored in stoppage time to give Brazil a place in the quarter-finals. Brazil took on Norway, where all their concerns about the tournament came to the surface. The first half was a fairly even affair, with Brazil probably edging it after Bruno Guimarães had a penalty saved. However, the second half was a completely different story as Norway took control of the match, dominating possession and creating the better chances. Erling Haaland struck twice, with his goal in the 90th minute proving to be the winner after a fantastic strike from the edge of the box, a pure exhibition of finishing quality. Neymar did pull one back for Brazil, but it all proved too little, too late for the Brazilians, who suffered heartbreak. It means it is now 24 years since Brazil last lifted the World Cup, and the wait for a sixth title goes on. What happens next for Brazil will be telling. Their squad was relatively old, featuring several players aged over 30. They simply will need a rebuild and a restructure. Will Ancelotti be the man to take them forward? Only time will tell. Despite having an ageing squad at the World Cup , there was still a lot of promise when it came to the younger players. Rayan of Bournemouth, who had a fantastic season since joining from Vasco, looked a bright spark, as well as Endrick, who, although he missed a big chance against Norway, still has plenty of talent to offer. He and Rayan will be key to carrying Brazil forward in the years to come. Both players will have plenty of opportunities to represent Brazil in future international tournaments, and while their first experience wasn’t entirely positive, it is one they can look back on as a huge learning curve and an invaluable experience, especially considering they both played with confidence. Rayan, in particular, looked like a bright spark, showing he is a player who isn’t afraid of pressure.