Brazil 1 Morocco 1
Lots to digest for both teams after that. The main talking points will come in a first half that was more or less completely dominated by Morocco with Brazil all over the place defensively and in midfield, Morocco deservedly went in front after Brahim Diaz played a brilliant through ball between the Brazil centre-backs to Ismael Saibari who lifted the ball over an on-rushing Alisson in the 21st minute. The Moroccans continued to dominate the game but in typical Ancelotti fashion it was Brazil who scored next as Vinicius Junior picked up the ball in the box skipping past El Aynaoui and firing the ball past Bono to get Brazil an unlikely equaliser in the 32nd minute, Brazil seemed to find their feet after the goal and headed into half-time probably the stronger team. The second half won’t live long in the memory as both sides seemed happy enough with the point in the end but Morocco did have a chance to win it at the end as El Aynaoui’s long shot was spilled by Alisson to Amaimouni- Echghouyab but the Brazillian goalkeeper recovered quickly to maintain the point for Brazil. Plenty of learnings for both teams after this one.
Morocco picking up where they left off. The shock of the last World Cup was Morocco reaching the semi-finals and it’s been only up for this team since then, AFCON was a disappointment despite being given the trophy two months later but it looks like they are set for another deep run in the World Cup this time around. The addition of Ayyoub Bouadi in the midfield is massive for this team and he was a real standout in the midfield for Morocco today, it looked like the attack could score at will in that first 30 minutes with El Khannous ripping Roger Ibanez apart in the time after time. Ismael Saibari’s goal was absolutely brilliant following a cutting pass from Brahim Diaz to the Bayern-linked Saibari who showed just why he’s being chased by the German giants with the finish, defensively Morocco were comfortable as well with Mazraoui really impressing at left-back. Overall a really strong start to the tournament for Morocco who will be confident of topping this group now if they win their next two games.
A worrying opening match for Brazil. I was probably more optimistic than most about Brazil heading into this World Cup but I would be super worried if I was Brazilian following that display, despite the score-line the first half was an absolute disaster all round with the midfield of Casemiro-Guimaraes-Paqueta getting rings ran around them along with the defence which didn’t look solid at all throughout the game. Then you look at Igor Thiago up front who was giving me flashbacks to Fred starting up front in the 2014 World Cup which is the last thing Brazil need in this tournament, looking at Ibanez at right-back you can’t help but feel like that Wesley injury was absolutely devastating for this Brazil team considering they don’t really have a replacement. Ancelotti did make changes at half-time but bringing on Fabinho and Danilo who’s best years are miles behind them won’t bring encouragement to a team clearly lacking confidence, the one positive will be Vinicius Junior’s goal which was pure magic and Brazil will need him at his best if they are to go far in this tournament. They’ll have to improve against Scotland and Haiti if they want to top this group.
What was Ancelotti thinking with the team selection? My Brazil rant isn’t finished yet, I can’t get my head around some of the choices Ancelotti made in this game. First of all Igor Thiago staring up front is something I don’t want to see again in this World Cup and I don’t care if he scored 25 goals for Brentford this season he’s clearly not at the level to be starting for a Brazil team with ambitions of winning the competition, starting a two-man midfield of Casemiro and Guimaraes with absolutely no legs up against an extremely mobile three man Moroccan midfield should have cost Brazil today but they got away with a point. The subs at half-time were needed but subbing on Fabinho who’s almost as immobile as Casemiro was strange considering you have Ederson on the bench who can help Brazil with legs in midfield, not even bringing on Rayan or Endrick was ridiculous considering how poor Brazil were going forward apart from Vinicius Junior. Raphinha playing 90 minutes whilst those two sat on the bench showed that Ancelotti clearly has favourites in this Brazil team which will cost them eventually in my opinion, it doesn’t look like the Neymar selection is going to save Brazil either. Will he even get on the pitch in this World Cup? I hope so.
Are we set for a shock in this group? With Scotland and Haiti playing later on tonight it’s entirely possible that either could finish ahead of Brazil considering the performance tonight, I know it’s only the first game but if your Scotland or Haiti there’s no reason to go into the Brazil game scared now which I get could be dangerous but why not have a go? You’d fancy Morocco to top the group now it’s still very open for everyone including Haiti, is there a chance Scotland or Haiti finish ahead of Brazil in this group? We’ll see how the game goes tonight.