Perhaps the biggest game of the tournament so far, the Samba stars from Brazil take on Morocco in New Jersey. The Atlas Lions have arguably been the most dominant African side over the last four years and will feel they can get a result today.
The group winners may be determined tonight
You can’t help but feel that this is set up to be a tasty encounter with talent all across the pitch for both sides. Brazil finally looks like a rejuvenated side capable of being a top contender for this tournament under Don Carlo, whereas Morocco have exceptional speed in transition, with Hakimi leading the charge towards the goal.
Unfortunately, we won’t get to see one of the greatest talents of the modern era return just yet. Neymar is set to sit out tonight’s game due to injury, but the hope is that he will be available for Brazil’s next match. Regardless of the outcome, this looks set to be a match filled with end-to-end football, so it would not be surprising if we see a big scoreline tonight.
Can Morocco match their 2022 World Cup performance?
The Atlas Lions will welcome Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz as he makes his World Cup debut and will be looking to impress after an underwhelming season with Real Madrid. Morocco may not be the favorites going into this clash, but they are surely not shy of talent. The North African giants have strong technical ability in all areas of the pitch, most notably in their midfield. Their team can unlock any defense, as seen in the prior World Cup, where they knocked out European powerhouses Spain and Portugal.
Is this the year for Brazil?
Brazil, on paper, has one of the deadliest squads in world football. When you look at names like Vini Jr, Neymar, Endrick, Raphinha, and more, there will be high expectations to perform. However, whether they can convert that onto the pitch remains to be seen. Brazil has always gone into tournaments with strong squads, but the results have not always been consistent with the level of talent. With Barcelona star Raphinha leading the press for Brazil, you can expect to see plenty of chances created. We can also expect to see a match of exceptional speed on both ends, with Vinicius Jr. vs. Hakimi expected to be the biggest battle of the game.
Brazil vs. Morocco kicks off at 6 pm Eastern Time.
