Analysis:Ancelotti's Brazil escape Morocco scare after first-half horror show

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey, June 13 : Brazil endured a dismal opening 30 minutes against Morocco, with the World Cup giants appearing bereft of ideas before Vinicius Junior hauled them back into the contest with a flash of familiar Real Madrid magic.

Some Brazilian observers called it the team’s worst spell of football since the 7-1 loss to Germany in 2014, though unlike that national trauma, Saturday’s stumble will likely prove inconsequential.

Vinicius's trademark surge down the left and sublime finish rescued Brazil after Ismael Saibari had given Morocco a deserved lead, preventing a first-half wobble from turning into something far more damaging.

For Carlo Ancelotti, however, the draw left a pile of uncomfortable questions before Friday's match against Haiti. Brazil's problems had been advertised well in advance of the tournament: a midfield short on creativity and control, and a glaring lack of specialist fullbacks.

Those concerns were sharpened by Ancelotti's squad makeup. He selected only five midfielders in his 26-man group and just one specialist right back, Wesley, who was later ruled out through injury.

Instead of replacing him with another right back, Ancelotti called up an extra midfielder, leaving two centre backs to contest a makeshift role.

Against Morocco, that gamble looked reckless. Roger Ibanez, the Saudi Arabia-based centre back asked to operate on Brazil's right side, endured a miserable first half, struggling with the pace of Noussair Mazraoui and Bilal El Khannouss and misplacing routine passes.

Brazil's right flank became a Morocco playground, with Lucas Paqueta also struggling badly. It was a breakdown between Paqueta and Ibanez that helped create the move leading to Saibari's goal.

CASEMIRO CONCERN

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