Analysis: Brazil impress with new faces stealing the show at the Maracanã | OneFootball

Brazil convincingly won this Thursday when they faced Chile at Maracanã, in the penultimate round of the South American Qualifiers for the World Cup. In front of more than 50,000 fans, the canary team delighted the audience with a good performance, especially from the "new faces" who took to the field.

Estêvão was one of the highlights. At just 18 years old, the forward started the match as a starter and did not disappoint Ancelotti, opening the score with a beautiful goal. In fact, it was the player's first goal for the Brazilian National Team, and fate would have it that it was scored right at Maracanã.

In the second half, Ancelotti looked to make some tests. One of them was the introduction of Luiz Henrique, who changed the game. The two other goals were originated by the Zenit forward. First by making an individual play, taking it to the end line and crossing to Lucas Paquetá's head; then it was him who recovered the ball after a wrong launch by the Chilean defense, playing a one-two with Bruno Guimarães and shooting at goal, hitting the post before the ball came back to the feet of the Newcastle midfielder, who pushed it into the back of the net.

Paquetá already has a considerable history with the Brazilian National Team jersey, but this Thursday he wore the Yellow again after being acquitted in the case of sports betting manipulation in England and also made a difference for the team led by Ancelotti.

Even with significant absences, such as Neymar and Vinícius Júnior, and the cut of other initially called-up players, Brazil showed its strength, while its coach gained even more options to assemble a competitive squad for the World Cup.

The more players are able to take the lead, the better for the team. At least in the match against Chile, Carlo Ancelotti got hints that Brazil does indeed have enough human material not to be reduced to a few already established players. There is life without Neymar and Vinícius Júnior, but that doesn't mean that their presence isn't fundamental to take an even bigger quality leap in the group that will seek the hexachampionship in 2026.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.