Where have the Samba dances gone?

The 1-1 draw against Morocco wasn't an alarming result for Brazil in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Morocco, who reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, possess a quality generation of players and are considered the toughest opponent for the Selecao in the group stage. However, what unfolded in the 90 minutes at MetLife Stadium showed that coach Ancelotti's team still has a lot of work to do if Brazil truly wants to compete for the championship.

It turns out that coach Carlo Ancelotti isn't a magician who can solve every problem. After witnessing his team concede a stunning goal to Ismael Saibari, the Brazilian national team coach had to rely on a moment of brilliance from Vinicius to prevent the five-time World Cup champions from starting the tournament with a defeat.

Morocco may not possess as many star players as Brazil, but they demonstrated superior cohesion and organization. Morocco's exquisite passing combinations, in their efforts to break through the Brazilian defense, embodied the beauty of modern football. Ismael Saibari's goal was a reward for that.

"Brazil seemed a bit heavy in the midfield, didn't they?" - The Guardian asked after the match.

That's somewhat understandable considering the personnel they have. For most of the first half, Brazil were practically chasing after their opponents. Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes struggled against Morocco's midfield, where young talent Ayyoub Bouaddi shone and became the cornerstone of the North African team's play.

Brazil: Where have the Samba dances gone? Photo: Matheus Cunha (number 9, Brazil) being aggressively tackled by a Moroccan defender (photo: AP)

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Coach Ancelotti has Vinicius as a player who can make a difference. But a team aiming for the championship relying solely on the brilliance of one individual doesn't seem like a positive sign. The Selecao should even learn from Morocco's "Atlas Lions" in how to operate a collective playing style that has already established its identity.

But most of all, what disappoints Brazilian fans is that the dancers' feet are no longer performing the Samba dance. Since the 2014 World Cup, it seems that Brazilian football identity is becoming increasingly "Europeanized." Even if Vinicius still dances with the ball, it's a style of play that prioritizes speed and efficiency, rather than the fluidity and grace of the "jogo bonito" (beautiful Brazilian football) that has characterized generations of Brazilians.

The reason "modern football" seems unable to mask the fading of Brazilian identity is that, on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain is also modernizing. They run more, press more, but their identity remains intact. That is a philosophy of ball control based on midfielders with exceptional individual skills while maintaining simplicity. And in terms of flair, Lamine Yamal is even playing "Brazilian style" more effectively than the Brazilian players themselves, and still achieving results.

It's no coincidence that the whole of Brazil celebrated wildly when Neymar appeared on the list of players called up for the 2026 World Cup. He is perhaps the last embodiment of that jogo bonito style of football.

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Returning to the opening match, a draw wouldn't have decided Brazil's World Cup journey. However, the game against Morocco clearly highlighted the problems that coach Ancelotti needs to address if he truly wants to compete for the championship.

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/the-thao/worldcup-2026/dau-roi-nhung-dieu-samba-1044179