Brazilian press: Morocco taught "Seleção" a tactical lesson in the World Cup.

The positive draw result (1-1) that concluded the match between the Moroccan and Brazilian national teams in the opening of Group C matches for the 2026 World Cup was not just a fleeting setback in point calculations for the Brazilian press; major newspapers and media outlets in the land of "Samba" agreed that the "Seleção" found itself facing a well-organized tactical setup from the "Atlas Lions," which rendered it unable to find solutions throughout the match, a performance that the "Gazeta de Povo" described as disappointing for Brazilian fans.

The same newspaper clarified that "the Brazilian team will enter the second match after this result in the knockout stage under significant pressure, as they will face the Haitian team next Friday," confirming that "the first half began with clear tension for Brazil. From the start, the Moroccan team pressured Carlo Ancelotti's squad, which struggled to pass the ball smoothly. In the second half, the Brazilian team's performance improved, and they maintained balance in the match, but the Moroccan defense stood firm under pressure, especially in the final minutes, to preserve the draw."

For its part, the "Lance" football website highlighted the criticisms directed by Brazilian fans at the performance of some players on their national team, particularly Raphinha, the Barcelona star, who was said to have delivered a lackluster performance in the match, emphasizing that "the first half of the Brazilian team's opening match was anything but calm. Relying on Paquetá on the right, Vinícius Júnior on the left, and the attacking duo Igor Thiago and Raphinha in the center, Brazil struggled in the early minutes against a more intense and organized Moroccan team. The Lions imposed their control in the first ten minutes with two attempts; one went wide of the goal, and the other was blocked by the Brazilian defense."

"Lance" continued that "the Moroccan superiority in the first half culminated in a goal in the 21st minute, following a long pass into the depth that Gabriel Magalhães failed to intercept, allowing the ball to reach Moroccan player Saibari, who found himself face to face with goalkeeper Alisson, and the striker did not hesitate to slot it into the net, announcing Morocco's lead. In contrast, Paquetá delivered a first half below the expected level, committing several errors in ball circulation, which hindered Brazil's attacking build-up."