Brazil’s underwhelming World Cup qualifying campaign continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw against a disciplined Uruguay side at the Fonte Nova Arena.
Despite dominating possession, Brazil lacked the cutting edge, with Vinicius Jr, the Ballon d’Or runner-up, once again failing to leave his mark on the international stage.
A spectacular strike from Gerson rescued a point after Federico Valverde’s brilliant opener had put the visitors ahead.
The visitors were well-organized defensively, limiting Brazil’s attacking threats and forcing them into wide areas.
Valverde’s leadership and creativity in midfield were instrumental, while the backline showed tremendous grit to frustrate the Selecao’s relentless attacks.
Brazil Player Ratings
Ederson (6/10): Had little to do besides a few routine clearances and could do nothing to prevent Valverde’s stunning goal.
Abner Vinicius (6/10): Solid defensively, ensuring Uruguay posed no threat down his flank.
Gabriel (7/10): Controlled the aerial battles and managed to contain Darwin Nunez effectively.
Marquinhos (5/10): Frequently out of position, leaving gaps for Uruguay to exploit.
Danilo (5/10): Gave Valverde too much space, leading to Uruguay’s opener.
Bruno Guimaraes (6/10): A combative presence but frustratingly inconsistent with his passing.
Gerson (8/10): Scored a breathtaking equalizer and was a dominant force in midfield.
Raphinha (6/10): Found it difficult to influence the game as Uruguay doubled up on him
Vinicius Jr (7/10): Showed determination and creativity but lacked the decisive final product.
Igor Jesus (4/10): Struggled to impose himself, contributing little to Brazil’s attack.
Savinho (6/10): Energetic but couldn’t find the space to create meaningful chances.
Lucas Paqueta (6/10): Added some flair but failed to produce any game-changing moments.
Gabriel Martinelli (6/10): Provided energy and width but lacked end product.
Andre (N/A): A questionable substitution with little impact.
Luiz Henrique (N/A): Entered too late to make a difference.
Estevao (N/A): No time to influence the game.
Dorival Jr (4/10): His tactical decisions remain puzzling, especially the exclusion of key players like Lucas Paqueta from the starting XI.
Uruguay Players Rating
Sergio Rochet (7/10): Reliable when called upon, making several crucial saves to deny Brazil’s late efforts.
Mathías Olivera (6/10): Defended well on his flank, ensuring Raphinha had little space to operate.
Sebastián Cáceres (7/10): Solid and composed, winning crucial duels and clearing dangerous balls.
Ronald Araújo (8/10): A rock at the back, marshaling the defense and effectively neutralizing Brazil’s forwards.
Giovanni González (6/10): Worked hard defensively, though his impact going forward was limited.
Federico Valverde (9/10): Scored a sensational opener and controlled the midfield with his vision, passing, and work rate.
Manuel Ugarte (7/10): Provided excellent defensive coverage and broke up Brazil’s midfield play.
Nicolás de la Cruz (6/10): Offered energy and creativity but was outshone by Valverde.
Facundo Pellistri (6/10): Showed flashes of skill but struggled to deliver the final product.
Darwin Núñez (6/10): Worked tirelessly to press Brazil’s defense but didn’t get enough chances to score.
Maximiliano Gómez (5/10): Found it hard to make an impact against Brazil’s strong center-backs.
Matías Vecino (6/10): Provided fresh legs in midfield and helped see out the draw.
Jonathan Rodríguez (N/A): Came on too late to make a significant impact.
Facundo Torres (N/A): Barely had time to influence proceedings.
Diego Alonso (8/10): Masterminded a disciplined performance, maximizing his team’s strengths and securing a valuable point against a formidable opponent.
Brazil’s World Cup qualifying journey faces more scrutiny as they continue to falter despite their talent-filled squad.
Vinicius Jr’s ongoing struggles highlight a broader issue in a team that seems unable to maximize its attacking potential.
Uruguay’s well-structured tactics and defensive solidity once again highlighted their ability to compete with the continent’s best teams. Valverde’s leadership and Araújo’s defensive brilliance were key to their success.
