The Brazilian team's 2-1 victory over Chile, on Wednesday night (10), in Santiago, brought relief at a delicate moment in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. After many disappointing performances, the team arrived at Dorival Júnior, under pressure. managed to secure three basic points in the search for classification. However, the work on the ground is far from convincing, which raises doubts about the group's real situation.Facing an opponent in crisis, Brazil started the match disappointed, conceding a lightning goal in the first minute. The game was designed with creation and strategy problems, characteristics that marked the group's recent trajectory. Although he emerged victorious, the performance on all four lines made clear the need for quick solutions.
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Another complication is essential absences. The Seleção has a special list of cuts due to injuries before this FIFA day. Athletes such as Alisson, Éder Militão, Bremer, Guilherme Arana and Vinícius Júnior, all previously called up, were forced to leave the team. These absences weigh heavily and Dorival Júnior needs to find alternatives in a team that has not yet fully recovered.
Reaction and change with the Botafogo brand From the beginning, Brazil found itself in a precarious situation. At 60 seconds, Eduardo Vargas, Chilean footballer and Atlético-MG player, took advantage of a flaw in Brazil's defense to open the scoring. The complete Danilo made a mistake in marking, allowing Vargas to rise freely to head and beat Ederson, who still couldn't avoid the goal. This early attack exposed the defensive weaknesses that we had 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 was almost turned into an own goal by Chilean defender Maripán. It's a sign that the group has woken up. Soon after, Savinho received a good entry 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 with the Canarinho shirt.
Dorival's changes and defense of the goal at the end At half-time, Dorival Júnior opted for changes in the middle, bringing André and Lucas Paquetá to replace Bruno Guimarães and Gerson. However, the changes had little effect on the party's abilities. Brazil continued to struggle to control the game and produce clear scoring opportunities. Possession of the ball was largely random, with few minutes of real danger for Chile.
Only in second-half stoppage time did the Seleção manage to find the winning goal. Luiz Henrique, who had replaced Savinho, took advantage of the poor position of the Chilean defenders and shot on goal to score Brazil's second goal. The move, more the result of chance than a clear game plan, guaranteed the victory and brought relief to the team, which was unable to commit.
Weak performance brings victory over Dorival Despite the victory, Brazil's performance has been criticized. The Seleção had less than five shots on goal throughout the tournament, and the Chileans, despite being runners-up in the Qualifiers, did not come under much pressure. Criticism of Brazilian football was immediate, with experts pointing out a lack of creativity and strategic consistency. The feeling is that Brazil escaped another negative result thanks to two periods of individual brilliance.
Dorival Júnior, already under pressure after the defeat to Paraguay, was inspired by the result, but doubts about the team remained. The coach admitted that the team is still far from finding its best football, suggesting the need for adjustments for the next games. Injuries to important players complicate the situation even further, forcing the coach to carry out tests that, so far, have not had the expected effect.
The next challenges in the Qualifiers The victory leaves 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 can perform more convincingly in front of their fans, removing doubts about their ability to guarantee qualification for the World Cup. Chile, which is in a difficult situation, will face Colombia on the same day, in Barranquilla.