Morocco loss no disaster for Brazil team in holding pattern

Brazil suffered their first ever defeat by an African aspect once they misplaced to Cameroon in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup. Just over three months later they went down 2-1 to Morocco in Tangiers — a 2-1 debut win for the Moroccans over Brazil and an exquisite approach for the Atlas Lions to benefit from the occasion they had been internet hosting to have fun reaching the semifinals in Qatar.

From a Brazil standpoint, although, that is emphatically not a disaster, a shame, a humiliation or any of the opposite phrases which are generally used when the nationwide team are defeated.

Morocco had their World Cup team on parade. Brazil’s line up featured seven members of the Qatar squad, simply 4 of whom started the fateful quarterfinal towards Croatia. If Morocco had been at full power, Brazil hardly have the means for the time being to outline full power; they’re in a wierd part. While they wait for the subsequent coach to step in (with Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti on prime of the wishlist), Under-20 supervisor Ramon Meneses was in cost, nearly definitely for this recreation solely. His squad choice was considerably idiosyncratic; promotion for 5 of his U20 squad, and a few names surprisingly not noted, chief amongst them Gabriel Martinelli and Bruno Guimaraes. The accusation that he has not been watching their video games is unquestionably justified. Meneses had his fingers full with the punishing schedule of the South American Under-20 Championships nevertheless it barely issues as his decisions are hardly definitive. The new coach may have his personal preferences. Against Morocco, then, Brazil had been hardly beginning a brand new cycle. But neither had been they only going spherical in circles. There is at all times one thing to be taught from excessive stress video games — and this, with a giant, exhilarated crowd in the stadium, certainly counts as a type of.

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Given the scratch nature of the team, Brazil had been in all probability higher collectively than may have been anticipated. Their excessive press was sufficiently organised to trigger Morocco some issues and switch goalkeeper Yassine Bounou right into a gibbering wreck. So dependable in Qatar, now Bounou regarded a continuing hazard to his personal team, with poor passes and ill-judged lunges off his line. Brazil loved the very best of the primary half hour, particularly with occasional fast combos of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Lucas Paqueta. One such transfer ended with Paqueta sliding a go to arrange Rony, whose panicky shot went over.

Otherwise, although, Rony left a superb impression on his debut. He is an attention-grabbing gnat-like striker, properly developed by Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira from an erratic winger to a flexible determine able to working huge, in the penalty space or work again down the flanks. As a late developer — he’s approaching 28 — he’s too outdated in at present’s market to draw curiosity from prime European golf equipment. But he did sufficient on debut to counsel that he may need a world future.

On the half hour, although, Morocco struck. The better of their team is the short little exchanges they play from the flanks, and one such transfer broke the impasse. Not for the primary time the defensive deficiencies of Brazil right-back Emerson Royal had been uncovered. He was caught in possession, and Sofiane Boufal performed a intelligent one-two with Bilal El Khannouss earlier than capturing residence deftly on the flip.

Brazil had been price their equaliser some 25 minutes from time, even when it wanted some collaboration from the Morocco keeper. Switched to the correct of the midfield trio, Paqueta performed a disguised sq. go to Casemiro on the sting of the world. The capturing place didn’t look nice, and neither was the shot, nevertheless it squirmed by means of Bounou and over the road.

As the second half became a parade of substitutes, there was a hazard that some depth is likely to be taken out of the sport. But Morocco needed to ship their followers residence completely satisfied and received the sport simply after a brief pause for a floodlight dip. It was a mixture of three replacements. Playing out below stress, Brazil misplaced the ball to left-back Yahya Attiyat-Allah, and his cross was chested down by Walid Cheddira for a gloriously emphatic volley from Abdelhamid Sabiri.

Brazil went 4-2-4 in a bid to get again stage, however as a variety of prime European groups came upon in Qatar, Morocco are a tricky nut to crack, and performed out time till the followers greeted the ultimate whistle with an explosion of pleasure.

But assuming Meneses leaves a report for his everlasting successor, some constructive points from the Selecao’s efficiency may properly be included.

With the attainable exception of the decisive aim, Eder Militao gave a sound efficiency in his first recreation as Brazil’s senior centre-back. Teenage midfielder Andrey Santos was not overawed on debut, nor, as we have now seen, was Rony. In the uncertainty over the worldwide way forward for Neymar, Vinicius appears pleased with the accountability of changing into the team’s most potent attacking menace, and his Real Madrid teammate Rodrygo comes up with sufficient little moments to maintain the hope alive that he’ll turn into the brains of the assault.

It would seem that each Madrid stars can be completely satisfied to see their membership coach turn into their nationwide team boss — and so now the duty of Brazil’s FA president is to speak Ancelotti into taking the job.