The national team’s journey towards the dream six-time championship begins this Saturday (13), against the Moroccan team, at the imposing MetLife Stadium, an arena located in East Rutherford, in the United States, which has a capacity for more than 82 thousand fans. With the confirmed absence of number 10 Neymar, sidelined by a calf muscle problem, striker Raphinha, currently 29 years old and defending Barcelona’s colors, takes on the role of protagonist in the tactical scheme drawn up by coach Carlo Ancelotti. The athlete will have the mission of breaking through the opponent’s block using his traditional sprints and precise long-distance shots.
The player born in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul built a solid career in European football after playing for clubs such as Grêmio, Leeds United and Brighton, until establishing himself at the Catalan giants. Internationally recognized for his ability to maintain a fast pace throughout the ninety minutes, as well as his ability to execute short dribbles and find his way to the net, the winger arrives at the tournament enjoying an excellent professional moment and promises to be the main escape valve on the edges of the field.
Broadcast options to follow the national team’s first challenge
The match valid for the opening round of Group C has the starting whistle scheduled for 7pm, considering the Brasília time zone. Fans will be able to follow each step of the duel through different platforms available to the Brazilian public:
- Open television: the free signal reaches homes through Globo and SBT antennas.
- Subscription and pay-per-view channels: complete coverage is the responsibility of SporTV and NSports.
- Streaming platforms: real-time digital display guaranteed by CazéTV on YouTube, ge TV and Globoplay.
Tactical formation defined by the Italian commander to overcome the African defense
The eleven chosen to start the clash must form with Alisson protecting the goal; a defensive line made up of Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães and Alex Sandro; the midfield manned by Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães; while the offensive sector will feature Raphinha, Lucas Paquetá, Vinícius Júnior and Matheus Cunha. Positioned on the right flank, the Barcelona athlete received specific instructions to widen the field, make poisonous crosses into the penalty area and risk shots, thus minimizing the lack that the main star of the squad makes in the construction of the plays.
On the African squad’s side, coach Mohamed Ouahbi will send a robust formation to the field with goalkeeper Bono; defenders Hakimi, Diop, Riad and Mazraoui; midfielders Bouaddi, El Aynaoui and Ounahi; in addition to the attacking trio formed by Brahim Díaz, Saibari and Rahimi. The team that surprised the planet by reaching the semifinals in Qatar in 2022 maintains its philosophy of closing spaces with an extremely compact defensive line, betting on quick transitions to surprise, which will force the South Americans to maintain a very high level of concentration and creativity in the final third.
Importance of a positive result for the country’s future in the world tournament
Accumulating high-level performances with the yellow shirt, the striker experiences for the first time the responsibility of being an unquestionable member of the starting lineup in a competition of this magnitude. The player is keen to value the partnership established with Vinícius Júnior and sees the current edition of the championship as the perfect showcase to showcase his full technical potential. Achieving the three points in the first match takes the weight off the squad’s shoulders for the next clashes in the bracket, which also includes the teams from Haiti and Scotland, paving a smoother path towards the sixth star.
The thousands of fans who promise to color the stands of the North American arena place their hopes on the winger’s agility and dribbling repertoire to overcome any obstacles. He perfectly embodies the union between the refined technique required at the highest level of the sport and the traditional determination characteristic of his southern roots, becoming the symbol of this new phase in the Brazilian offensive sector.
