“‘The win was well deserved by Argentina,’ said Brazil’s coach, Dérival Junior, who also mentioned that his team will find a way to bounce back.
What happened on the field was echoed in Dérival Junior’s voice. The Brazil coach candidly admitted that from the very first minute, they were not in the fight against Argentina. However, he also shared a note of hope, expressing his belief that his team would find a way to recover.
The South American rivalry between these two teams had generated a lot of excitement. Before the match, comments from several Brazilian players, including Raphinha, seemed to fuel the fire. Yet, the intensity that was heard in the voices of the Brazilians before the match was absent on the field. There was no fight to be seen. Instead, Argentina played dominant football, making the contest a one-sided affair, winning 4-1.
From the very beginning, Argentina took control of midfield and cornered Brazil. In the fourth minute, they scored the first goal. Maintaining their dominance, Argentina scored three more times in the first half, while they added another in the second half, even though they only scored once.
Brazil seemed disorganized and lost, unable to figure out what they were trying to do on the pitch throughout the match. They managed just three shots on goal, one of which was on target.
After the match, the feeling of surrender was reflected in the coach’s voice.
“From the first minute today, our plan didn’t work. What has happened, we have to accept, the way they overwhelmed us and the win was rightly theirs.”
After 14 qualifying matches, Brazil now sits fourth with 21 points. Six teams from this region will directly qualify for the World Cup, while one more will have the chance through the playoffs. So, Brazil’s chances are still good. However, with the current performance, the five-time world champions are slowly becoming a shadow of their former self.
Dérival, however, remains hopeful that his team will find a way forward.
“This is a significant defeat, and we are in a very difficult and complex process. But there’s no doubt we will find a way (to bounce back).”
