Without a titular coach and still an orphan of Neymar, injured, Brazil of Vinicius Jr, on a preparation tour for the Amsud zone qualifications for the World Cup-2026, lost to Senegal of Sadio Mané (4-2) in match friendly, Tuesday in Lisbon. If the Real Madrid striker was behind the opener, placing a millimeter cross on the head of Lucas Paqueta (10th, 1-0), Sadio Mané stole the show by signing a double .
Still in the first period, Mouhamadou Diallo took advantage of a poorly cleared ball by the Brazilian defense to restore equality with a powerful recovery from the left (22nd, 1-1). Then Mané entered the scene by provoking an own goal from Marquinhos (52nd, 2-1) and scoring himself a superb goal with a shot curled into the top corner (55th, 3-1), before transforming a penalty in added time (90 6, 4-2).
Before that, Marquinhos had tried to redeem himself by temporarily reducing the gap with a somewhat lucky goal from a corner (59th, 3-2). Brazil remained on an easy victory against weak Guinea (4-1) on Saturday in Barcelona, after a surprise defeat (2-1) against Morocco in Tangier in March.
At the José Alvalade stadium, it was still the U20 coach Ramon Menezes who officiated on the bench in place of Tite, thanked after the bankruptcy of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (elimination in the quarters against Croatia). The Seleçao had some of its safe bets, such as Ederson as goalkeeper or Marquinhos as defense boss.
But midfielder Casemiro, sidelined by a last-minute injury, had to give up his place and the midfield was entrusted to Lucas Paqueta, associated with Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, who both play for Newcastle. In attack, Richarlison and Vinicius were aligned with the surprise Malcom, called at the expense of Rodrygo, also injured.
Brazil are still without a coach since the departure of Tite at the end of the World Cup, Ramon Menezes taking over. Brazilian FA president Ednaldo Rodrigues has made Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti his ‘plan A’, but the Italian has said he wants to stay at Real until his contract ends in June 2024 .
On the side of Senegal, winner of CAN-2023, coach Aliou Cissé was able to rely on Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly, midfielder Pape Gueye (Sevilla FC) and, of course, Bayern Munich striker Sadio Mane.
