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Timeless images, the adulation of the world, a finished fairy tale, and the World Cup trophy hoisted above our heads. In the past, those chapters and pages seemed to belong to Brazil abroad, almost exclusively, it seemed.
Not anymore. It has been more than two decades since the Seleçao triumphed on a global level and now, even worse, it is their biggest rivals who concentrate their ecstasy and jubilation with the planet, their biggest rivals who are now knocking on the door of the world Maracanã. champions and full of optimism for what’s to come.
Argentina, with Lionel Messi, despite everything feels that it has accomplished its mission. But that doesn’t mean his story is over; Holders of world and continental titles, they will try to make more hits next summer as they try to become the first South American country to retain the Copa América and at the same time be World Cup champions. The only team that came close was, of course, Brazil: winners of the 1997 and 1999 Cup, they reached the final of France ’98, but lost to the host country.
If all this turns out to be the best time for Brazil to rise up against all odds, knock down their rivals and become the biggest team in Conmebol again. . . Well, that’s true in theory, but there are other degrees of difficulty given the situation. context of this meeting. Array
To begin with, those qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup take place at the site of Argentina’s first triumph in this cycle: the Maracanã, where they beat Brazil 1-0 in the final of the 2021 Cup. Added to that is a draw in the Qatar 2022 Qualifiers and the cancellation. and it’s been more than 4 years since Brazil last beat Argentina.
More immediately, the Seleçao have won two of five qualifying matches this time around, are without Neymar, Vinicius Jr and Richarlison due to injuries up front and a more defensive host that adds captain Casemiro, Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson and Real Madrid centre-back. -Eder Militao returns.
In short, Brazil is in a state of confusion, with no easy way out.
Still, there’s no explanation for panicking when it comes to the World Cup; six of the ten CONMEBOL nations will qualify automatically and some others will triumph in the repechage; It’s hard to believe Brazil is missing anything, even though there is already an embarrassing five-point gap between them and their rivals, with just five rounds out of a total of 18 to play.
Solving much of this problem naturally fell to the coach at the time, Fernando Diniz. He is going through a very important stage: the greatest successes at the club are joined by those struggles on the foreign stage, but also in the short term. Diniz, who recently won the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense, is under contract until the summer, when Carlo Ancelotti is expected to take over ahead of the Copa America itself.
But before that, Diniz wants Brazil to get back on track tactically and technically, even if the effects are not immediate against Argentina or, in a friendly in March, against England. Naturally, it’s more complicated with injury absences like this: Vinicius has Militao, a much more vital component of the team, was their most productive centre-back in terms of form and Neymar’s prestige remains enormous even if his game has long since fallen from its highest peaks.
Others, such as Antony, Emerson Royal and Renan Lodi, seem to be part of the team that comes and goes depending on availability, but is never part of the most suitable plan and rarely looks for the required point anyway. A lot of work, especially in midfield, and his time with the team will pass quickly.
It is possible that Diniz will seek in the long term to rediscover Brazil’s joy for playing football, but his appointment in the short term and the national policy of the Seleçao – that is, opposed to its rival – will remain linked only to the here and nowArrayArray This will not go well if they stick themselves in the floor of the house, regardless of the base laid.
And yet, despite all those problems, we have already seen Brazil from adversity. We have seen Argentina fail from a position of strength.
Football, being a crazy and ever-changing sport, is used to seeing teams rise up in the face of improbability, and the lack of danger that the Albiceleste faces in this remote game may only add to that.
Argentina’s long wait is over. Their biggest bankruptcy is being rewritten, their biggest hero has had his moment and the reshaping of the team, his taste and the integration of new players to shape the debut of his next team, is complete.
Brazil is still trying to find the first steps to take. Perhaps he can do it here in this stadium, just as the Maracanã was the stage where his rivals achieved great fortune almost two and a half years ago.