After Brazil’s worst defeat in World Cup qualifiers, captain Marquinhos apologized to the fans, saying, “Argentina knows how to play smart football.”
The pain of being dominated by their arch-rivals was felt not only on the field but also by the supporters, and Marquinhos acknowledged their disappointment. After Brazil’s crushing 4-1 loss to Argentina on Wednesday morning, Bangladesh time, the captain took to heart the defeat and offered an apology to the fans.
In reality, the 4-1 scoreline didn’t fully capture the extent of Argentina’s dominance. Brazil was almost invisible on the field, with only a few players in yellow jerseys appearing helpless. There was little resemblance to a true competition.
Following this humiliating performance, Marquinhos bowed his head and delivered a message to the fans, acknowledging Argentina’s superiority.
“The game is still fresh, and it’s hard to speak right now… but it’s embarrassing. What we did today cannot be repeated.”
“The start of the match was terrible for us. What we did was far below what we are capable of, and they were brimming with confidence. They know how to play smart football. I feel bad for the supporters, and I apologize to them.”
Brazil’s coach, Darrival Junior, has faced criticism for a while, and after such a loss, the calls for his removal are growing in the media.
However, Marquinhos didn’t place all the blame on the coach. He emphasized that Brazil must rise up like Argentina did.
“It’s not just the coach’s fault… the players are also to blame. There is no mysterious formula in football where you pick something and it works. We all need to do better. We must share the responsibility. We need to stay grounded and understand the time and situation.”
“We need to keep our thoughts clear. They also had tough times and overcame them. We can do the same.”
After this loss, Brazil remains in 4th place with 21 points after 14 matches in the qualifiers. Uruguay is in 3rd place with the same points, while Paraguay is in 5th. Ecuador is in 2nd with 23 points. Argentina, already having secured their World Cup spot before this match, is at the top with 31 points.