Brazil Player Ratings Against Morocco: Vinicius Jr Shines in Draw as Ancelotti Faces Tough Questions
Vinicius Jr's goal salvaged a draw for Brazil against Morocco in their World Cup opener, leaving coach Carlo Ancelotti with pressing concerns about his team's performance.
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Brazil's World Cup campaign began with a 1-1 draw against Morocco, with Vinicius Jr providing a moment of brilliance that brought life to an otherwise lackluster performance.
The match started poorly for Brazil, as they struggled to establish control and conceded the first goal. Morocco's Brahim Diaz played a crucial role, threading a pass between Brazil's center backs to Ismael Saibari, who lifted the ball over the goalkeeper Alisson after scoring 15 goals for PSV this season.
Following the goal, Brazil's coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed the need to reassess his team's first-half performance, acknowledging the challenges they faced. He stated, "We have to reassess what we did in the first half... we cannot lose heart. This is the first match of the World Cup."
Despite the poor start, Ancelotti defended his starting lineup, rejecting criticism of his selection. He said, "The starting XI was well thought of. I will not take any criticism about the players that started the match."
Brazil managed to respond unexpectedly, with Vinicius Jr making the most of his first opportunity. Given too much space by Morocco, he cut inside onto his right foot and struck the ball into the top corner, momentarily energizing a stadium that was surprisingly quiet.
Ancelotti praised Vinicius's performance, noting, "Vinicius did well. He was very dangerous, and he has everything in his power to have a good World Cup."
The second half held promise for Brazil but ultimately resulted in little progress. Ancelotti substituted the struggling Casemiro at half-time, bringing on Matheus Cunha in hopes of enhancing the team's quality. However, Cunha's impact was minimal, and while Vinicius continued to look dangerous, Brazil could not find a second goal. Morocco, on the other hand, settled into a defensive posture and effectively stifled Brazil's attempts.
For Ancelotti, the match was a mix of neither disaster nor triumph. He reflected, "The team fought really hard until the last minute. I think what we have to do better is very clear. What we did well in the first two friendly matches did not go very well in the first half of this match. I’m not disappointed, and I’m not satisfied either. We have to work, we need to work, of course, and that’s normal. The Moroccans played well... this was a difficult game."
GOAL provided ratings for Brazil's players during the match:
- **Alisson**: Made several key saves but was unable to prevent Morocco's goal.
- **Danilo**: Struggled in the first half, frequently outperformed.
- **Thiago Silva**: Out of position on Morocco's goal but improved as the game progressed.
- **Marquinhos**: Also struggled defensively but regained composure as the match continued.
- **Casemiro**: Had a poor outing, failing to keep pace and substituted at halftime.
- **Bruno Guimarães**: The stronger of the midfield duo, assisted Vinicius and showed good work rate.
- **Lucas Paquetá**: Was largely ineffective initially but made some defensive contributions in the second half.
- **Raphinha**: Had a lackluster first half but created chances later on.
- **Rodrygo**: Held possession well but was not heavily involved overall.
- **Vinicius Jr**: Scored with his first real chance and looked dangerous throughout, unlucky not to score more.
- **Alex Sandro**: Provided solid defensive work despite his age.
- **Fred**: Contributed defensively but lacked offensive impact.
- **Matheus Cunha**: Limited influence in his brief appearance, with few touches in the game.
- **Danilo (Botafogo)**: Had little opportunity to make an impact during his time on the pitch.
This match marked a mixed start for Ancelotti in his World Cup coaching debut. While Morocco proved to be a capable opponent, Brazil will likely feel they could have achieved a better result.
