By Daily Review Online
Brazil split the points with the North African side after a really lukewarm performance (1-1) in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener.
Brazil could be forgiven for having a bad first half, but not for the second, because that will be the typical ostrich behaviour, which is not acknowledging that there are problems with the team.
It’s totally understandable that it was their first World Cup game, and often teams, no matter how big they are, are not at the height of their powers in their first test. There is pressure, and you are playing in a new country, on a new pitch, and all that does affect a team’s performance. But you still win somehow. That’s how the top teams operate.
Taking nothing away from Morocco, they are one of the top sides in the world. In the FIFA rankings, they ranked 8th before the game, only two rungs behind Brazil. But the nature of international football is such that two rungs can mean a lot. They are good enough to highlight the big chasm between the teams. Sadly, Brazil didn’t do justice to their higher position in the rankings. Also to their higher quality.
It’s not like they didn’t have many chances in the match. They had had enough; it’s just that in the final third, they failed to perform well. Igor Thiago should have headed that ball in — in the 14th minute. Who misses an opportunity like that in a World Cup match? That was very disappointing. Lucas Paqueta and Raphinha had had their moments too but couldn’t capitalise on those. In terms of ball possession, they just edged Morocco at 51.3%. Not good enough. To make matters worse, they had five shots on target, but only one of them went in.