Impressive Morocco secure a point against an underwhelming Brazil

Morocco’s opening spell was a deliberately rehearsed tactical trap rather than a fluke. They pressed in a compact mid block, protected central lanes and punished Brazil’s wide circulation with rapid transitions; Bouaddi orchestrated the midfield before Diaz’s through ball found Saibari to open the scoring.

Brazil started in a 4-2-3-1 with Allison in goal, a back four of Ibanez, Marquinhos, Gabriel and Santos and Casemiro and Guimaraes as the pivot behind Paqueta, Raphinha and Vinicius with Thiago up front. The team’s main problem was progression: distances between lines were often too large, build-up produced cheap turnovers and the midfield duo struggled to break lines cleanly.

Out of possession Brazil’s shape was pulled apart by Morocco’s fluid possession and transitions, exposing gaps the midfield failed to cover.

morocco, brazil, saibari, bouaddi, diaz, allison, marquinhos, casemiro, 4-2-3-1, compact press