EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — On the eve of Brazil’s first World Cup match against Morocco, Vinícius Júnior addressed the media, expressing that he isn’t focused on being the standout player of the tournament; his sole aim is to secure victory in the championship.
However, after a 1-1 draw with Morocco at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, he may wish to reassess that focus. Based on this performance, he appears closer to individual accolades than Brazil is to claiming a sixth World Cup title.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti’s team was fortunate to leave the match with a point, largely thanks to a moment of brilliance from the Real Madrid forward.
Brazil has not lost their opening match in a World Cup since 1934, making this close call particularly notable. Morocco, fueled by the exceptional performance of 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, will feel disappointed they couldn’t begin their campaign with a win.
When the final whistle blew, the Moroccan players showed no signs of celebration, with head coach Mohamed Ouahbi remarking, “We hoped to have more.”
While Morocco missed an opportunity, Ancelotti can use the moment to regroup as his team’s morale remains relatively intact. In this expanded tournament format, a draw in a difficult group match isn’t a setback, providing time to develop a more cohesive team capable of competing at the highest level.
Vinícius at least provided Ancelotti with a positive note amid a post-match press conference primarily focused on tactics and player selection. “He did well,” Ancelotti remarked. “He was very dangerous. I believe he has everything needed to have a great World Cup.”
What lies ahead for the team over the next month remains uncertain. Before Vinícius’ intervention midway through the first half, Brazil struggled to find their rhythm.
Ancelotti attributed the team’s shaky start to “nerves” and “anxiety,” though many observers felt his tactical setup was flawed.
With Lucas Paquetá positioned wide on the right, Bruno Guimarães and veteran Casemiro were tasked with covering vast swathes of the dry MetLife pitch in the New Jersey heat. Morocco took full advantage of the spaces left open.
Before long, concerns were mounting as Noussair Mazraoui connected with Brahim Díaz in the center circle.
As Brazil’s midfield scrambled to engage, Brahim had ample time to execute a precisely weighted pass that split Brazil’s center-back pair of Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães.
This allowed Ismael Saibari to dart through and skillfully lift a shot over the out-of-position Alisson. Saibari’s effort was one among 12 attempts by Morocco in the first half-hour, thoroughly earned.
At that point, Ancelotti had seen enough; Paquetá was repositioned into a central midfield role.
This switch pushed Vinícius to the left, where he later showcased individual brilliance, finding the equalizer.
Initially appearing as if he’d run out of space after collecting Guimarães’ pass near the touchline on the penalty area’s left side, Vinícius deftly maneuvered inside and curled a right-foot shot into the far corner.
The goal ignited jubilant celebrations among the sea of yellow shirts in the stands, with a hint of relief.
“It was a challenging match,” Ancelotti admitted. “We need to evaluate our performance. We didn’t play well. In the first half, we were very unbalanced. We improved a bit in the second half, but we cannot dwell on one match.”
“The result isn’t unfavorable. Winning the World Cup doesn’t happen in the first game. I’m neither disappointed nor fully satisfied.”
Thus, Brazil managed to escape with a draw, leaving Ancelotti with much to contemplate as they prepare to face Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday.
Employing a 4-2-4 formation grants him the flexibility to accommodate more creative players in the lineup.
Adding another midfielder creates a more balanced approach, something that became evident during a more controlled second half against Morocco.
While this may not significantly impact the upcoming match against Haiti, currently ranked 83rd in the world, it will be crucial for their progression through the knockout stages, as Brazil aims to advance past the quarterfinals for only the second time since clinching their fifth title in 2002.
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Fans on Copacabana Beach celebrate Brazil’s equalizer vs. Morocco
This match was reminiscent of the year they last triumphed in a knockout round against a European team. Ancelotti is confident that Brazil will grow into the tournament—and they must do so.
He indicated that changes are forthcoming, and fortune is on his side, as the knockout rounds don’t commence for two weeks. Despite the opening draw, it’s hard not to expect the five-time champions to progress—especially with talents like Vinícius on their side.
“For various reasons, a World Cup debut may not go as anticipated,” Ancelotti stated. “Our objective is simply to qualify, advance to the next stage, and improve as we go. We remain fully confident. Not everything unfolds perfectly in football.”
Until Ancelotti identifies the issues plaguing Brazil and devises solutions, he will need Vinícius to continue stepping up.