Vinicius Junior scored a brilliant equaliser for Brazil in a 1-1 draw with Morocco as the five-time World Cup winners made an uncertain start to the tournament in New Jersey.
Ismael Saibari ran through to give Morocco a 21st-minute lead with a clever scoop in the Group C opener on Saturday, but Vinicius produced a moment of magic to ensure Brazil came away with a point.
Brazil are chasing a record sixth World Cup title, 24 years after last lifting the trophy, but this performance suggests there is a lot of work to be done by Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Kaka were all members of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning squad and were among those in attendance at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Brazil have turned to the hugely successful Ancelotti in a bid to end the country’s title drought. He is the first foreign coach to lead Brazil at football’s biggest tournament.
A fifth-placed finish in South American qualifying underlined the scale of the challenge facing Ancelotti. However, the Italian insists Brazil possess a squad capable of competing with anyone in the expanded 48-team tournament.
He was without Neymar for the start of the competition, with Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer still recovering from a calf injury, having not played for his country since 2023.
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi urged his players not to fear Brazil, and his message appeared to resonate as the 2022 semifinalists started brightly in one of the standout matches of the first round.
After Neil El Aynaoui and Achraf Hakimi threatened the Brazil goal, Saibari made the breakthrough when he latched onto a fine pass from Brahim Diaz.
The PSV Eindhoven forward raced beyond Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes, holding his nerve with a clinical chipped finish over the advancing Alisson Becker.
Brazil drew level 11 minutes later through Vinicius, who will have a vital role to play if Brazil are to shine this summer.
The Real Madrid star received the ball from Bruno Guimaraes on the left side of the area before cutting back onto his right foot and hammering into the far corner past Yassine Bounou.
It belatedly breathed life into a lacklustre Brazil, and Lucas Paqueta saw his acrobatic effort pushed away by Bounou before half-time.
Bounou saved well from Igor Thiago as Brazil caught Morocco napping with a quick throw-in after the break, while Raphinha and Danilo shot right at Bounou as the Selecao pressed for a winner.
Morocco nearly snatched it at the death when Alisson parried a long-range effort from El Aynaoui and had to react sharply to block the follow-up from Chemsdine Talbi.
Brazil next face outsiders Haiti while Morocco take on Scotland in their second match.
Brazil make a slow start
Brazil are chasing a record sixth World Cup title, 24 years after last lifting the trophy, but this performance suggests there is a lot of work to be done by Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
They showed signs of nerves during the early stages of the game and struggled to cope with a lively Morocco attack.
A fifth-placed finish in South American qualifying underlined the scale of the challenge facing Ancelotti, and this performance has done little to ease concerns about the quality of the Brazil squad.
A number of their players struggled to cope with the intensity of the Moroccan team, with midfielder Casemiro subbed off at half-time after a difficult opening 45 minutes in the heat.
The World Cup final is a long way off in New Jersey, but Brazil will have to vastly improve if they are to have any hope of making it.
Morocco look like the real deal
The Atlas Lions stunned the world of football in 2022 as they made it all the way to the semifinals in Qatar.
Four years later, Morocco have the chance to show that it was not a one-off run to the last four and they are the real deal.
Judging by their performance in New Jersey on Saturday, the North African nation are truly a force to be reckoned with.
They arrived in North America as African Cup of Nations champions, after being retrospectively awarded the title following a controversial final defeat to Senegal, and they continued their strong form with a commanding performance against Brazil, playing with a high level of confidence and plenty of attacking threat.
Morocco appear set for another strong tournament showing.
Vinicius shows his top quality
If Brazil are to make it to the latter stages of this tournament, they will rely heavily on Vinicius to provide goals and assists in North America.
The Real Madrid man has consistently scored for his club this season, including 16 goals in La Liga and five in the Champions League, and it now appears that he is bringing this form to the world stage.
With Brazil struggling in the first half, Vinicius received the ball from Bruno Guimaraes on the left side of the area before cutting back onto his right foot and hammering into the far corner past Yassine Bounou.
It was the kind of magic moment that he regularly produces for Real Madrid, and the Selecao will be looking for more individual brilliance in their coming games.
Neymar injury hangs over Brazil
The Neymar soap opera is set to dominate another tournament for Brazil, with the 34-year-old on the sidelines for yet another major tournament match.
Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer is still recovering from a calf injury, having not played for his country since 2023.
He was dramatically recalled to the national squad, despite not featuring in Ancelotti’s plans during the Italian’s year in charge, but he remains under scrutiny over his fitness and form following years of injury trouble and an underwhelming spell back at Santos.
It is unclear exactly when Neymar will be fit enough to return to first-team action, but judging by the media’s focus on him during Saturday’s match, this saga is set to dominate discussion around Brazil.
Draw leaves Group C wide open
Brazil and Morocco are the clear heavyweights in their group, but Saturday’s draw in New Jersey has left Group C somewhat in the balance.
Scotland currently sit top of the table after a 1-0 victory over Haiti in Boston, and they will now be eyeing the chance to reach the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
Morocco and Brazil remain heavy favourites to finish in the top two automatic qualification spots, but Scotland know that any points in their final two group games will almost certainly book their spot in the round of 32.
Credit: aljazeera.com
