Vinícius Júnior and Matheus Cunha restored Brazilian pride with decisive goals, putting an end to the wave of criticism and doubts that had been haunting the national team. Following a disappointing debut against Morocco, Brazil showcased its attacking DNA once again and defeated Haiti, securing three crucial points in the fight for qualification for the next stage of the World Cup.
The team led by Carlo Ancelotti entered determined to dispel the ghosts of their opening match draw. The game took place this Wednesday in a stadium full of expectant Brazilian fans, against a Haitian team already morally shaken after their initial defeat to Scotland. Brazil, ranked sixth in the FIFA rankings, faced the 84th-ranked team, marking the largest disparity in rankings during this group stage. Despite being favorites, the Brazilians still bore the burden of not having won two consecutive matches in World Cups, something that hadn’t happened since 1978.
THE 2026 WORLD CUP IS EXPERIENCED WITH LEGO
The victory over Haiti became vital to calm the troops and relaunch the canarinha’s title bid. Historically, Brazil has never lost to CONCACAF teams in World Cups, now totaling nine wins and just one draw in ten encounters, having conceded only two goals. Additionally, the Haitians, who had already been defeated in all five matches played in the final stages, confirmed their status as the first team eliminated in this edition, increasing to 15 the goals conceded in this competition.
The context was, therefore, one of immense pressure for Brazil, which could not afford to fail. Danilo, the national team’s full-back, confessed: “It was frightening because there was the expectation that we would put on a great display,” he admitted after the initial draw. “When things don’t go well, it’s not easy to digest. We need to find balance. We were unbalanced both tactically and mentally.” These words reflect the demanding atmosphere within the team, which knew it was one step away from matching one of the worst sequences in its World Cup history.
The goals from Vinícius Júnior, who matched his record of six goal involvements (three goals and three assists) in an equal number of World Cup matches, and from Cunha, proved to be decisive. The Real Madrid winger once again was the offensive beacon, demonstrating why he is considered one of the team’s main weapons. Haiti, on the other hand, despite being the team that shot the most in this round of Group C (15 shots), showed enormous defensive weaknesses, confirming the trend from the qualifying matches, where only Bermuda and Nicaragua conceded more goals.
The coach of Haiti, Migne, has become the second manager to lead the country in a World Cup, and the first non-Haitian to do so. However, even Duckens Nazon’s hat-trick in the qualifying phase was not enough to avert disaster. Haiti now matches the negative record of other teams such as Mexico, El Salvador, and Canada, all of whom were defeated in their first five World Cup appearances.
With this victory, Brazil not only avoided the bleak scenario of failing to win their first two World Cup matches for the first time in nearly 50 years, but also gained new momentum to attack the knockout stage. Ancelotti, who had faced criticism for a lack of creativity against Morocco, saw his team respond appropriately and dispel doubts about their ability to compete at the highest level. It remains to be seen whether the national team can maintain their momentum and correct the imbalances, in a journey that promises to be increasingly demanding.
The next challenge will be crucial to consolidate their status as favorites and definitively banish the ghosts of the recent past. The pressure on Vinícius Júnior, Danilo, and company remains high, but the confidence regained from this victory could be the catalyst for a successful campaign. Haiti, for its part, bids farewell to the tournament without glory, but with the dignity of those who, despite their limitations, never stopped fighting until the final whistle.
NOW YOU CAN FOLLOW THE WORLD CUP WITH ALL THE INFORMATION – HERE
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
