Experienced defender Marquinhos believes the Brazilian players are still struggling to adjust to the changes within the team.
The Brazilian squad now seems like a shadow of its former self. The sharpness and cohesion that once defined their play are missing. Beautiful football feels far from reach, and even winning has become a challenge for the five-time world champions. In such a difficult period, Marquinhos has called on the fans to stay behind the team.
Brazil’s performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers hasn’t been ideal. At one point, they went three matches without a win, suffering three losses. They had fallen quite low in the points table, but their situation has improved somewhat. With 5 wins, 4 losses, and 2 draws, they are currently in 4th place with 17 points.
They are 5 points behind Argentina, who lead the table, and tied on 19 points with Uruguay and Colombia in 2nd and 3rd place, respectively. The top six teams in the qualification table will earn direct spots for the World Cup from South America.
After struggling, Brazil showed signs of recovery by winning both of their October qualifiers. However, they stumbled in their opening match this month, drawing 1-1 against Venezuela. They had a chance to win, but Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior missed a penalty.
Brazil’s next match is against Uruguay on Wednesday. Marquinhos urged the team not to get discouraged. The experienced PSG defender emphasized that, despite the challenges, the team is giving their best effort.
“Even though many things may have disappointed people’s hopes for the national team, we want them to keep their passion for us,” said Marquinhos.
Under new coach Diniz, Brazil has yet to hit its stride. Key players like Neymar, Rodrygo, and Militao are unavailable. Marquinhos acknowledged that the team is still adjusting to the changes.
“We’ll still make mistakes in many areas. The changes within the squad are new to us. But as long as the mistakes are fewer, that makes us happy.”
“As long as we’re in a comfortable position, we’re not overly concerned about our standing in the (World Cup qualifiers). We want to climb the table, improve our performance, and build confidence with each win.”
