Brazil suffered a heavy blow after losing 1-4 to Argentina in the World Cup qualifiers. This defeat shocked the Selecao squad and forced them to face the bitter reality in their efforts towards the world’s biggest tournament.
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, who failed to make a significant impact in the match, revealed the mood in the dressing room after the humiliating defeat. He said the team did not talk much because everyone knew how bad their performance was.
“When we arrived in the dressing room, there was not much to say. We played very badly, while Argentina played a great game in front of their fans. We have to evaluate everything. The World Cup is one year away, and I don’t want to lose again,” said Vinicius.
Vinicius stressed the need for changes in the team if they are to return to winning ways, acknowledging the weight of wearing the Brazil shirt and the huge challenges they face.
“We have to make a lot of changes to build a strong team. Everyone knows how hard it is to wear this jersey, how difficult every game is. We have to keep improving, stay confident and never give up. We will qualify for the World Cup,” he stressed.
The defeat was Brazil’s fifth in qualifying, leaving them stranded in fourth place in the South American zone standings. Meanwhile, Argentina continues to show impressive performances and is increasingly solid at the top of the standings.
Vinicius also acknowledged Argentina’s superiority in preparation and experience of playing as a solid team.
“Argentina have been working together for a long time. Many of their players have played together for years and they are world champions. We are still trying to find our own way of playing and build trust with the fans. It is a long process, and we have to keep improving,” he explained.
With poor results continuing, Brazil coach Dorival Junior is now under immense pressure to find a solution. Reports suggest that the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is again considering Carlo Ancelotti as a candidate to bring change to the national team.
For now, Vinicius Junior will turn his attention to club football, looking to lead Real Madrid to major honours this season. However, the pressure remains on the Brazilian national team to bounce back quickly and prove themselves in the remaining World Cup qualifiers.
