Vincente Aboubakar in 2022 was the Kjetil Rekdal of 1998. By heading towards Ederson’s goal in the 47th minute of the second half, the Cameroonian striker did what had not happened since the penalty taken by the Norwegian midfielder 24 years ago.
After the 2-1 victory obtained by Norway in 1998, in France, Brazil has not lost another game in the group stage of the World Cup. That lasted until this Friday (2nd), when Cameroon scored 1-0 against Tite’s men at the Lusail stadium.
Despite the score, the selection finished first in Group G, with six points. The team will face South Korea next Monday (5), at 4 pm (BrasÃlia time), at Estádio 974, for the round of 16. The country has never played against the Asian rival in knockout matches of the tournament.
Brazil entered the field being able to do something that had not happened since 2006: finishing the first phase with a 100% success rate was in 2006, in Germany. Defeated, in sequence, Croatia, Australia and Japan. It ended up eliminated in the quarterfinals by France. After that, they always drew at some point: against Portugal (2010), Mexico (2014) and Switzerland (2018).
Without Neymar, Danilo and Alex Sandro (all injured) and worried about the possibility of losing other names, Tite gave the substitutes a chance. When, 18 minutes into the second half. Pedro took the place of Gabriel Jesus, meaning that 25 of the 26 called up by the coach played in the group stage in Qatar. The only exception was the third goalkeeper Weverton.
The injured trio were present in Lusail to follow the confrontation. Including Neymar, who had stayed at the hotel while the team faced Switzerland in the second round. He suffered injury to his right ankle on his debut against Serbia. The possibility of him playing in the round of 16 will be the great doubt of the selection until Monday.
Brazil was not the same team as the previous matches. In defense or attack. Antony was always a threat in the right sector and Rodrygo carried the Cameroon marking in the middle, trying to present his credentials as a replacement for Neymar. The two were just stopped with fouls. Some violent and from behind.
But the team wasn’t so incisive and, if I got close to the Cameroonian goal, it didn’t create great opportunities. There were even two saves by Ederson. The first of them, at 20 minutes, represented the first time that a Brazilian goalkeeper was used in the World Cup. It was a Tolo cross. Afterwards, he would still flatten Mbeumo’s header.
It could not be considered likely that Brazil will maintain the same football as in the two previous matches, when they had the starters. Cameroon, if they have skillful offensive players, are fragile in defense. This Friday’s game (2) began with four goals conceded.
Even the behavior of the Brazilian fans was different from previous rounds of the World Cup. It was less active, with less encouraging shouts. In the 11th minute, they started wailing, a gesture made by someone who is not that interested in football. Before the start, a flag was opened wishing a speedy recovery in São Paulo with a respiratory infection.
The African team entered the field after six matches without a win. The last triumph had been in September, against Equatorial Guinea, in the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations.
After Aboubakar nearly opened the scoring early in the second half. Tite decided to change and put Marquinhos Bruno Guimarães and Everton Ribeiro in the match. One of those chosen to leave was Rodrygo. Gabriel Jesus, who barely appeared in the first 45 minutes, remained on the pitch. It didn’t last long. At 18, he gave way to Pedro.
The Flamengo striker gave the team something that was lacking until then: a presence in the area. Someone who worried about African defenders. It was something that hadn’t happened before. He nearly scored on 39.
After the victory over Switzerland, in the previous match, Thiago Silva had said not to worry about the entry of other players because everyone would be prepared. It was a photocopy of the speech that was always Tite’s. Daniel Alves, 39, one of those given a chance against Cameroon, said that youngsters mature quickly. Or “become men” as he put it. It was a way of signaling that there would be no problem on the field in the farewell to the group stage.
In the end, there was. Aboubakar header in stoppage time. At the celebration, he took off his shirt and was expelled.
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