Brazil‘s dressing room felt uncomfortably quiet. The 4-1 thrashing by Argentina had sunk in, and Vinícius Júnior, visibly frustrated, repeated a stark phrase to reporters: “We have to rethink everything.” He had just faced jeers from the home crowd in Buenos Aires, and even his lighthearted flex—reminding some of Argentina’s players that he’s got two Champions League trophies—couldn’t mask the sting of defeat.
Vinícius’s words carried weight. “The World Cup is only a year away and I’ve already played in a World Cup and I don’t want to lose again,” he said, calling for immediate changes. He warned that fans and media alike were bound to apply extra pressure. “We’re Brazilians and we never give up,” he added, as if trying to rally teammates and supporters in the same breath.
Brazil’s predicament is more than a tactical slump. Coach Dorival Júnior took the blame, apologizing after a performance that lacked urgency and precision. “No one expected what we saw,” he said. “The Argentina team was superior in every way.” Still, he insisted he’s not one to quit. Captain Marquinhos echoed those sentiments, stressing that everyone on the team must shoulder responsibility. “It’s not just the coach’s fault,” he said. “We can all do better.”
Argentina, even without Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez, commanded the midfield and made Brazil’s back line look tentative. Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister orchestrated quick passing sequences that Brazil struggled to contain. Julián Álvarez scored within minutes, and by the time the second goal went in, Brazil’s players appeared stunned.
A lone bright spot came when Matheus Cunha capitalized on a defensive slip by Cristian Romero. But any hope of a comeback faded as Argentina tightened its grip on the match. The defeat left Brazil sitting in fourth place in the South American standings. While still in a qualifying position, they’re only a few points above the playoff zone, and time is running short to find a real solution.
Even so, Vinícius offered a moment of defiance, reminding rivals that at club level he’s reached European glory—twice, in fact. Some saw it as posturing. Others saw it as an attempt to protect his pride. After all, Brazil’s history brims with World Cup triumphs, but the recent string of poor results has raised doubts.
Brazil needs a renewed sense of urgency ahead of World Cup 2026
“We have to do a lot of different things,” Vinícius said, alluding to tactics, mentality, and maybe even leadership. Marquinhos agreed, apologizing “for our fans” and challenging everyone in the squad to step up. For Brazil, pride comes wrapped in five World Cup titles. That legacy demands winning, not just playing well.
Whether Dorival stays or Brazil looks for a new coach, the message is clear: losing so handily to an Argentina side missing its biggest star is unacceptable. With the next World Cup looming, few illusions remain. If there’s a reset button, now is the time to press it. Brazil can’t afford another wake-up call like this.
