Brazil forward Vinicius Junior said the team “have to rethink everything” after their World Cup qualifying campaign stalled with a 4-1 defeat against rivals Argentina.
World champions Argentina, who were without forwards Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez, raced into a 2-0 lead inside 12 minutes in Buenos Aires.
Matheus Cunha reduced the deficit in the first half, but goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Giuliano Simeone secured victory for Lionel Scaloni’s side, whose World Cup spot had been secured before kick-off after Bolivia drew with Uruguay.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Vinicius criticised Brazil’s performance against their rivals.
“Everyone did badly, we played badly, and Argentina played an excellent game, with their fans,” the Real Madrid forward said, as reported by ESPN. “We have to rethink everything we’ve been doing, because the pressure will come, the people want us to win.
“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. I think we have to do a lot of different things and take the good things we’re doing in qualifying to build a squad.
“Everyone knows how difficult it is to play in this kit, but we have to improve, keep our heads up, because we’re Brazilians and we never give up. We’re going to qualify for the World Cup and try to do everything for our country.”
Brazil are on course for World Cup qualification as they sit fourth in the table of 10 South American teams. The top six automatically advance to next year’s competition, which is being played across the United States, Mexico and Canada. They are six points clear of seventh-placed Venezuela.
Vinicius, 24, said his side are “trying to find our way of playing”.
“Argentina have been working together for a long time. [They have] a lot of players that have played together for a long time in the national team, they won the last World Cup, they have the confidence.
“We’re trying to find our way of playing, to win the fans’ confidence, but it’s a long job. We have to keep improving.”
Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos, meanwhile, said his side’s performance in Argentina was “embarrassing”, as he apologised to their supporters.
“What we did here can’t happen again,” Marquinhos told Brazilian TV station Globo. “It’s hard to talk about it in the heat of the moment. It’s embarrassing.”
Brazil return to World Cup qualifying action against Ecuador on June 4.
The 2026 World Cup kicks off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 2026 with the final to be at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, on July 19. It will be the first time the tournament has featured 48 teams.
(Top photo: Manuel Cortina/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
