The Brazilian team's 2-1 victory over Chile, on Thursday night (10), in Santiago, brought relief to a dangerous moment in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. After a series of disappointing performances, Dorival Júnior's team, under intense pressure,. managed to obtain three main points in the search for classification. However, their performance on the field has not been convincing, raising doubts about the team's true form.Facing an opponent in crisis, Brazil had a difficult start, conceding a great goal in the first minute. The game was designed with difficulties in execution and tactical organization, characteristics that characterized the team's recent trajectory. Although he won, his performance on all four lines made clear the need for immediate changes.
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Another complicating factor is vital absence. The Seleção has a huge list of injury reductions 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. The defeats were heavy and Dorival Júnior was forced to find an alternative in a squad that had not yet recovered.
Reactions and changes to the Botafogo brand From the beginning, Brazil found itself in a worrying situation. At 60 seconds, Chilean striker and Atlético-MG player Eduardo Vargas took advantage of a drop in the Brazilian defense to open the scoring. Full-back Danilo made a mistake in marking, leaving Vargas free to beat Ederson, who also missed the target. This initial attack exposed defensive weaknesses that had been noted 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 group was waking up. Soon after, 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 the first goal for Canário.
Dorival's changes and saving goal at the end In the middle of the season, Dorival Júnior opted for a change in midfield, placing André and Lucas Paquetá in place of Bruno Guimarães and Gerson. However, the changes had little effect on the team's performance. Brazil continued to struggle to control the game and create clear scoring chances. Possession was largely inconsistent and there were some moments of genuine danger for Chile.
Only in second-half stoppage time did the Seleção find the winning goal. Luiz Henrique, who replaced Savinho, took advantage of the weak position of the Chilean defense and shot across the cross to score Brazil's second goal. The change, more the result of opportunism than a clear game plan, guaranteed the victory and brought relief to the team, which did not have the courage to commit.
Poor performance increases pressure on Dorival Despite the victory, Brazil's performance was criticized. The Seleção had less than five shots on goal during the match, and the Chileans, despite being runners-up in the Qualifiers, did not come under much pressure. Criticism of Brazil's football was immediate, with experts saying it lacked creativity and tactical consistency. The feeling was that Brazil escaped another negative result thanks to two moments of individual brilliance.
Dorival Júnior, already under pressure after the defeat to Paraguay, received less time in the result, but the team's need remained. The coach admits that the team is still far from finding its best football, as he recognizes the need for improvements 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.
Next challenges in the Qualifiers The victory kept Brazil in fourth place in the Qualifiers, with 13 points, still behind leader Argentina, with 19. The next challenge is against Peru, on Tuesday (15), at the Mané Garrincha Stadium, in Brasilia. The expectation is that the team will be able to have a more convincing performance in front of their fans, removing doubts about their ability to guarantee qualification for the World Cup. Chile, in a complicated situation, faces Colombia on the same day, in Barranquilla.