Brazil's 2-1 victory over Chile, on Thursday night (10), provided a moment of relief in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, in Santiago. was able to provide three main points in the ranking search. However, the performance on the field was not convincing, which casts doubt on the team's real situation.Facing an opponent in decisive time, Brazil started the match in a horrible way, conceding a lightning goal in the first minute. Dealing with difficulties in matchmaking and tactical organization determined the team's final trajectory. Although they emerged victorious, the quartet's performance revealed the need for urgent changes.
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Another complicating factor is significant absence. The Seleção had a long list of injury cuts before this FIFA date. Athletes such as Alison, Eder Milito, Bremer, Guilherme Arana and Vinicius Junior were forced to leave the team. It was a tough defeat and Dorival Junior had to look for an alternative in a squad that was unable to recover.
The reaction and revenue from the Botafogo brand have been a concern for Brazil since the beginning. At 60 seconds, Chilean striker and Atlético-MG player Eduardo Vargas was unable to open the scoring against the Brazilian defense. Full-back Danilo made a mistake in marking, allowing Varga to head and beat Ederson, who also failed to avoid the goal. This early attack exposed defensive weaknesses that had been evident in previous games.
Brazil's response took a while, but it came in the first half. Having difficulty making plays, the team began to threaten in the 27th minute, when a cross from Abner almost resulted in an own goal by Chilean goalkeeper Maripan. It was a sign of collective awakening. Soon after, Savinho received a good pass from Danilo on the right and crossed for Igor Jesus, who headed in his debut for the Seleção, before Canarinho scored the first goal with the shirt.
Dorival's changes on the wing and defensive goal At half-time, Dorival opted for changes in midfield, placing André and Lucas Paquetá in the places of Junior Bruno Guimarães and Gerson. However, the changes had little effect on the team's dynamics. Brazil continued to struggle to control the game and create scoring opportunities. Possession of the ball was largely sterile, with few dangerous moments for Chile.
Only in second-half stoppage time did the Seleção find the winning goal. Luiz Henrique, who replaced Savinho, took advantage of Chile's poor defensive positioning and scored Brazil's second goal. The change, more the result of opportunism than a clear game plan, guaranteed the victory and brought relief to a team that was unable to relegate.
The poor performance puts pressure on Dorival despite the victory, but Brazil's performance has been criticized. The Seleção had less than five shots on goal throughout the match, and the Chileans, even runners-up in the Qualifiers, didn't put much pressure on. Criticism of the football played by Brazil was swift, with experts pointing out a lack of creativity and tactical consistency. Brazil avoided another negative result thanks to two moments of individual brilliance.
Dorival Juniors, under pressure after the defeat to Paraguay, managed to breathe with the result, but the demands remain on the squad. The coach admitted that the team is far from finding its best football and needs to make changes for the next games. Injuries to important players complicate the situation even further, forcing the coach to carry out experiments that so far have not had the expected effect.
More challenges in the qualifiers The victory leaves Brazil in fourth place in the qualifiers, with 13 points, behind Argentina, 19 years old. The next test is against Peru, on Tuesday (15), at the Mané Garrincha Stadium, in Brazil. The team will have a more convincing performance in front of their fans, removing doubts about the possibility of guaranteeing qualification for the World Cup. Difficult Chile will face Colombia in Barranquilla on the same day.