Analysis: "Brazil had a mediocre campaign with poor repertoire"
Brazil had a mediocre campaign. The word fits with the dictionary meaning. Mediocre is something average. And period. Of six possible phases, the Brazilian team reached the third phase. Out of five games, they won three, drew one and lost one. We see apathetic opponents. According to the FIFA rankings, we tied with sixth place and lost to nineteenth place. It's a poverty of quality and repertoire compared to the Brazilian team's past.
Since 1990, Brazil has not fallen so soon. 36 years ago, we were eliminated by Argentina. We learned and improved with the team winning in 1994, runner-up in 1998 and five-time champion in 2002, but that was 24 years ago, because we unlearned. Therefore, until the next World Cup, we will have the longest period without a World Cup since we won our first title. There will be 28 years without achievements until the start of the 2030 World Cup. Not even between 1970 and 1994 was the period without achievements so long. What would Pele think of that? I wouldn't like it, to say the least.
And there's more: after 2002, Brazil doesn't know what it's like to beat a European team in the knockout stage. We were eliminated by France, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Croatia and, finally, Norway. From Ronaldo to Neymar, from Dunga to Ancelotti, there is always a European pulling Brazil down. Or would it be a Brazil that plunges into an abyss from cycle to cycle?
In this World Cup, the Brazilian team suffered from mistakes that cost them the sixth. The cycle was bad, full of changes in technicians and in command of the CBF. Carlo Ancelotti had a much lower performance compared to his history in the European leagues. No one doubts his quality as a coach, but his work with Brazil is highly questionable. Bad exchanges, we feared the 4-2-4 tactical scheme during the short cycle and dubious call-ups, as seen at the World Cup, such as Casemiro, Marquinhos, Danillo and Alisson.
And what about Neymar? There was pressure to call up the Santos striker who, once again, did not show his potential in the World Cup. Four World Cups, four eliminations - excluding his responsibility, obviously, in the 2014 World Cup when Neymar was the victim of a very violent tackle by Colombian full-back Zuñiga. At present, the reality is different. Neymar provoked opposing goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland by taking a penalty that didn't do much good. He wasted time in discussion while time was running out against the Seleção in search of the goal that would never be found. Neymar only "closed the coffin" of the Brazilian team. He played poorly, disrupted the middle of the field, scored a goal in his fourth World Cup and, finally, retired as soon as Brazil was eliminated.
And, speaking of penalties, we found out the hard way that Bruno Guimarães was fourth in preference for a penalty. Ancelotti revealed that Neymar, Igor Thiago and Raphinha were at the top of the list of preferences. None were on the field in the first half. Guimarães took nine shots in his career, missing only two. In the latter, Bruno hit poorly and wasted a crucial goal for Brazil.
July 5, 2026 was the day when nothing worked. Martinelli failed to score. The much acclaimed Endrick played and missed a goal. Gabriel Magalhães failed to mark Haaland. Ancelotti made a bad move in the second half.
The fact is that the previous victories against Haiti and Scotland, mainly, masked the defects of the squad that never excited, was full of poor performances from players from the main teams in the world and suffered from injuries.
Now, we will see another team win on pure merit. There is nothing more mediocre for a five-time champion nation to have to accompany the other's celebration without, at least, having had the capacity to compete for ownership of football's biggest party.
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Source: CNN