You know that old football saying: if you don’t score, you concede? Thus, Brazil was defeated 1-0 on the afternoon of Friday, November 2, at the Lusail Stadium, in the third round of Group G of the Qatar Cup. However, despite this loss, the Brazilian team secured the top spot in the group and will play against South Korea in the round of 16.
Entering the last game of the first phase already classified gave coach Tite the opportunity to field the entire reserve team against Cameroon. This strategy had already been used in this Cup by France and Portugal, both with disastrous results. A warning that the national coaching staff did not take seriously. In the case of the Brazilian team, changing ten players (only Fred was retained from the starters of the last match) did not alter the dominance of actions and the greater possession of the ball, but in the end, the result was the same as for other major teams: a humiliating defeat with a goal in stoppage time.
Despite the loss, the Brazilian team actually started better. But with little movement, relying on high balls into the area, Brazil made life easier for the Cameroonian defense, which managed to cut off the attacks. Conclusion, the first half ended without goals, just like in the last matches.
Brazil returned for the second half without objectivity. To make matters worse, with the injury of left-back Alex Telles, something incredible was happening with the team: of the four full-backs who went to the Cup, three had already been injured. Only the veteran Daniel Alves, 39 years old, remained fit.
Cameroon loosened up and began to enjoy the game. At 47 minutes, in a cross into the area, the experienced Aboubakar, a striker for Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia), headed it right into the corner of Éderson’s goal, who didn’t even move. It was the winning goal for Cameroon. The number 10 of the African team was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for celebrating the goal by taking off his shirt, but it was the final blow to a team that at no point showed it could win the match.
In the final classification of Group G, Brazil still finished in first place, with 6 points and a goal difference of 2. Switzerland also scored 6 points but with only one goal difference. Thus, Tite’s team will face South Korea at 2 PM (Eastern Time) next Monday. The Swiss will take on the Portuguese on Tuesday, also at 2 PM.
With Agência Brasil