The Brazilian team's 2-1 victory over Chile, on Thursday night (10), in Santiago, brought relief to a delicate moment in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. After a series of disappointing performances, Dorival Júnior's team, under great pressure, managed to score the goal. three fundamental points in the search for classification. However, the performance on the field was far from convincing, which raises doubts about the real state of the team.Facing an opponent in crisis, Brazil started the match disastrously, conceding a lightning goal in the first minute. The match was designed with difficulties in creation and tactical organization, characteristics that marked the team's recent trajectory. Even though they won, the performance of the four lines clearly showed the need for urgent adjustments.
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Another complication was the significant absences. The Seleção had a significant list of cuts due to injuries before this FIFA date. Athletes such as Alisson, Éder Militão, Bremer, Guilherme Arana and Vinícius Júnior, all previously called up, were forced to leave the team. These absences weighed heavily and Dorival Júnior had to look for alternatives in a group that had not yet completely restructured itself.
Reaction and turnaround with the Botafogo brand From the beginning, Brazil found itself in a worrying situation. At 60 seconds, Eduardo Vargas, Chilean striker and Atlético-MG player, took advantage of a flaw in the Brazilian defense to open the score. Full-back Danilo made a marking error, allowing Vargas to head free and beat Ederson, who was also unable to prevent the goal. This early attack revealed defensive weaknesses already observed in previous games.
Brazil's response took a while, but it came in the first half. Having difficulty creating plays, the team only started to threaten in the 27th minute, when Abner's cross almost resulted in an own goal by Chilean defender Maripán. It was a sign that the team was waking up. Shortly afterwards, Savinho received a good pass from Danilo on the right and crossed for Igor Jesus, who, on his debut for the Seleção, equalized with a header, scoring his first goal with the Canarinho shirt.
Changes in Dorival and decisive goal at the end At half-time, Dorival Júnior opted for changes in midfield, placing André and Lucas Paquetá in place of Bruno Guimarães and Gerson. However, the changes had little impact on the team dynamics. Brazil continued to struggle to control the match and produce clear scoring chances. Possession of the ball was quite sterile, with some moments of real danger for Chile.
It was only in stoppage time of the second half that the Seleção managed to find the winning goal. Luiz Henrique, who had replaced Savinho, took advantage of the poor positioning of the Chilean defense and shot across the cross to score Brazil's second goal. This decision, more the result of opportunism than a clear game plan, guaranteed the victory and brought relief to the team, which was unable to win.
Poor performance increases pressure on Dorival Despite the victory, the Brazilian performance was criticized. The Seleção had less than five shots on goal throughout the match, and the Chileans, even runners-up in the Qualifiers, did not come under much pressure. Criticism of the football played by Brazil was immediate, with experts highlighting the lack of creativity and tactical consistency. The feeling is that Brazil escaped another negative result thanks to two moments of individual brilliance.
Dorival Júnior, who was already under pressure after the defeat to Paraguay, managed to breathe a little thanks to the result, but the demands on the team remain. The coach admitted that the team is still far from having found its best football, recognizing the need for adjustments for the next clashes. Injuries to important players complicate the situation even further, forcing the coach to carry out experiments that, so far, have not had the desired effect.
Next challenges in the Qualifiers The victory kept Brazil in fourth place in the Qualifiers, with 13 points, still behind leader Argentina, who has 19. The next challenge will be against Peru, on Tuesday (15), at the Mané Garrincha Stadium, in Brasilia. The hope is that the team will have a more convincing performance in front of their fans, thus removing doubts about their ability to guarantee qualification for the World Cup. Chile, which remains in a complicated situation, will face Colombia on the same day, in Barranquilla.