Does the young star help? : Brazil in football crisis

NSo let Gabriel Jesus do it: in a classic match against world champions Argentina, the Arsenal striker returns to the field after almost a month off. Coach Fernando Diniz carried out a test at the Granja Comari training center on Saturday to see if Gabriel Jesus is ready again.

The Brazilian storm has finally opened a significant gap. In addition to Neymar, who is likely to be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, Vinicius Junior is also expected to leave. The striker, who was substituted in the 2-1 win over Barranquilla, is already recovering from a muscle injury at his club Real Madrid.

The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for the record-breaking world champion. Because if Brazil loses to their arch-rivals in the legendary Maracanã on Tuesday (21:30 local time/Wednesday, 1:30 CET), then if things go badly they risk being knocked out of World Cup qualifying. takes sixth place in the sixth round of Eliminators.

The shine of crime has faded

This is despite the fact that for the first time, the top six of the ten countries of the South American association Conmebol directly qualify for the expanded 2026 World Cup in Mexico, the United States and Canada. The current crisis is primarily due to a negative streak that began with a surprise 1-1 draw against former football midget Venezuela and then continued with two defeats in Uruguay (0-2) and Colombia (1-2).

For the first time in South American World Cup qualifying history, Brazil have lost two games in a row. Only two opening wins against the bottom of the table, Bolivia (5:1) and Peru (1:0), keep Brazil in the qualifying ranks for now.

Despite the current results crisis, the Selecao should not be in danger of missing out on World Cup qualification. But what is noticeable is that the team has lost its sparkle in attack. Neymar may be a controversial man, but he is also a football entertainer.

This also includes Vinicius Jr. due to his speed and determination. In Uruguay (0-2) in mid-October, they still played with Gabriel Jesus, but did not have much success. After Vinicius was substituted early on Thursday morning in Colombia, none of the trio was left on the pitch.

Is the young star ready yet?

A difficult question now faces newly crowned Copa Libertadores winner Fernando Diniz. Given the lack of strikers, should he now send 17-year-old Endrick into a steely emotional and media bath against Messi and company, or will such a responsibility be too great for the young star from Palmeiras, who has already signed a contract with Real Madrid?

Because if the young man from Sao Paulo actually played against Argentina and then scored, comparisons with Pele in the media would be inevitable. And with it a huge backpack for the rest of my career. The super-talented Endric makes his first appearance in the Seleção squad and is therefore the youngest player for the national team since Ronaldo in 1994.

In Barranquilla, Colombia, Endrick made his debut in the final stages, also because Diniz had no alternative, given the injuries to Neymar, Jesus and Vinicius. “Endrik has great potential. “He can become a legend in Brazilian football,” Diniz was quoted as saying by local media, and it should be clear what the coach’s decision is.

Overall, the Seleção’s current striker shortage doesn’t even seem to be the Seleção’s biggest problem. Brazil have made too many defensive mistakes lately. Diniz, the club’s hugely successful coach, is now under pressure as interim coach of the Selecao: “I think the team is gradually developing and the results will come,” he says, whose contract runs until mid-2024.

Carlos Ancelotti, considered the favorite coach of CBF president Ednaldo Rodriguez, is still waiting in the background. However, a third consecutive defeat to Argentina at the Maracana would put Diniz in serious trouble.

Meanwhile, Argentina’s opponent once again lost a football match after a long time. Of all places, Lionel Messi’s world champions lost 2-0 to Uruguay in Boca Juniors’ legendary La Bombonera match. And after several months of collective football madness, terrible background noise appeared.

A completely packed stadium, scores of counterfeit tickets and the end of a winning streak have drawn long faces in Buenos Aires for the first time since winning the World Cup almost a year ago. Argentina also have something to lose in Tuesday’s game. Even if it’s just the ease of a world champion.