On June 25, Brazil drew 0-0 with Costa Rica in the first group stage of the Copa America, and the opponent was only ranked 52nd in the international rankings. However, Brazil faced such an opponent, with 74% possession and 19 shots on goal, but lacked the goal, which was completely different from the impression of a star-studded Samba team with explosive attacking talent.
This is not the worst, in the 2026 US-Canada-Mexico World Cup South American qualifiers, Brazil won 2 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses in 6 rounds, only 7 points, temporarily ranked 6th. The sworn enemy Argentina is at the top of the table with 5 wins and 1 loss, and Uruguay, which is being renewed, is also in hot form, ranking second with 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss, and has scored 13 goals, which is the most attacking team in South America at this stage. It's hard to imagine how ugly Brazil would lose if they met Argentina and Uruguay.
According to the rules, after the expansion of the US-Canada-Mexico World Cup, South America has 6 direct qualifiers and 1 play-off spot. It seems that Brazil is just in 6th place, and it seems that it will be their turn to advance, but teams such as Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador are not soft persimmons that Brazil can handle casually after years of experience in competitions. Paraguay and Chile, which are temporarily behind Brazil, are not good at it, and there are two teams with the home of the Devil's Plateau, Bolivia and Peru. If the momentum continues, there is a real chance that the Samba Army will miss the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In fact, since winning the World Cup in South Korea and Japan in 2002, Brazil has missed the Hercules Cup for 22 years, and has not missed any World Cup during this period, but has participated in a total of 5 times, and the best result is only the top 4. However, Brazil were swept 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup, a historic disgrace, and Samba fans probably won't think the team did well in that tournament. Brazil is a bit like Argentina in the past, and every time they participate in a tournament, they are considered favorites, but their specific performances are completely unworthy of the expectations of the outside world, and there is no hope at all.
Brazil has won the World Cup 5 times and is still proud of the world, but that is the glory of the past, and the current Brazilian football is indeed difficult to find a way forward. In terms of lineup, the current Brazilian national team has Vinicius, Rodrygo, Martinelli and many other attackers, who are well-deserved cores in their respective clubs. But the common characteristic of these players is that they are more like wingers, and they may be reliable in passing through, and it is a bit of a fool's dream to expect them to attack the city and take on the responsibility of scoring goals in the tournament. In the midfield of the Brazilian team, Paqueta and Guimaraes are all sweet and sweet in the transfer market, but they are like younger brothers compared with Ronaldo, Júnior, Kaka, Emerson, Edmilson and others.
Not to mention the back line, after Thiago Silva's farewell, it is difficult to call Militão, Marquinhos or Gabriel, who has been outstanding this season, the top defensive player. To say that Brazil's only advantage is Neymar and the two goalkeepers, but unfortunately the former's career has long been lost, and now it is a long-term injury, Alisson and Ederson are strong, and only one can play. For Brazilian football, if it continues to adhere to this style of over-emphasizing fancy football, turning the tournament into a few players' individual show, and having no cohesive tactical style, it may never be able to win the Hercules Cup again when it is inferior to Europe in terms of economy, youth training, and environment.