Heavyweights Brazil and Morocco Start Group C Action with 1-1 Draw

Ken Garner
3 hours ago
3 min read

Credit John Sibley/Reuters via Al Jazeera

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Brazil, the most heralded team in World Cup history, and Morocco, a rising star on the international stage, met Friday in a rare early World Cup match between top teams. The winner likely would have won Group C and, presumably, would have faced a weaker Round of 32 opponent. “Would have” because Brazil, No. 6 in FIFA’s rankings, and Morocco, No. 7, played to a 1-1 draw at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford in front of 80,663 fans.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil lineup included Allison in goal, a back line of Ibañez, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, and Giovanni dos Santos. Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães started as the midfield defensive tandem with Raphinya, Lucas Paquetá, and Vini Jr. behind striker Thiago.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi had Bounou in goal, Mazraoui, Riad, Diop and Achraf Hakimi on the back line, Aynaoui and Bouaddi as defensive midfielders and attacking midfielders Khannouss, Ounahi and Díaz behind Saibari

Morocco, the Atlas Lions, were electric early in the first half, aggressively pressing and counter-pressing to create multiple opportunities in transition. The young Lions, the darlings of the 2022 World Cup when they became the first African and first Arab team to reach the semifinals, capitalized in the 20th minute when Ismael Saibari ran onto a long ball from Brahim Díaz and chipped a shot over Brazil and Liverpool goalkeeper Allison Becker.

Vinícius Júnior, Brazil’s dynamic young left wing – he’s still just 25 – and Real Madrid star, drove along the end line before cutting around a defender and burying a right-footed shot into the goal’s upper right corner. After 32 minutes, the match was tied 1-1.

And that’s how it would end. Both teams had opportunities, but the keepers – Allison (with a huge double save in the 98th minute, diving to his left and then squashing the rebound with one arm) and Yassine Bounou for Morocco – made key saves to preserve the draw.

The teams took turns dominating the ball, with Brazil eventually finishing with 54 percent of possession. Morocco had more shots, 13 to 8, but Brazil put more shots on target, 5-4. Brazil had 499 passes to Morocco’s 474, and the teams had almost identical passing success with Morocco completing 88 percent to Brazil’s 77.

Brazil’s Casemiro (37th minute) and Roger Ibañez (43rd) received the match’s only yellow cards. Both teams used a 4-2-3-1 formation.

In this year’s expanded World Cup field -- up from 32 to 48 teams – the first- and second-place teams in each of 12 four-team groups will advance to the tournament’s knockout stage. The eight best third-place teams will complete the Round of 32 bracket. Brazil and Morocco remain favorites to advance, although either Scotland (FIFA No. 42) or Haiti (No. 83) can claim first place in Group C with a win in their match tonight (Scotland leads 1-0 at this writing).

Upcoming Group C matches:

Friday, June 19

• Scotland vs. Morocco, 5 p.m., Boston

• Brazil vs. Haiti, 7:30 p.m., Philadelphia

Wednesday, June 24

• Morocco vs. Haiti, 5 p.m., Atlanta

• Scotland vs. Brazil, 5 p.m., Miami