Former England captain Alan Shearer has criticized Brazil defender Gabriel dos Santos following Brazil’s 1-1 draw against Morocco in the opening round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage.
The match produced plenty of excitement as Morocco took the lead before Brazil responded with an equalizer in a contest that sparked discussion about Brazil’s defensive performance.
Shearer Questions Gabriel’s Performance
Shearer expressed concerns about Gabriel’s display, suggesting that the Arsenal defender appeared hesitant and slow in several key moments throughout the match.
According to the England legend, Gabriel failed to take advantage of opportunities to deal with certain situations more effectively, allowing Morocco to create dangerous attacking moments.
He also highlighted the defensive spacing between Gabriel and Marquinhos, arguing that the gap between the two center-backs contributed to Morocco’s ability to exploit space in Brazil’s defensive line.
Morocco Capitalizes on Defensive Error
Morocco opened the scoring in the 21st minute through Ismael Saibari after taking advantage of a defensive mistake inside Brazil’s backline.
The Atlas Lions continued to demonstrate strong organization and discipline, making life difficult for the Brazilian attack during several phases of the match.
Vinicius Rescues Brazil
Brazil found its way back into the game through Vinicius Junior, who scored the equalizer in the 32nd minute following an impressive individual effort.
The Real Madrid star beat his marker before firing a precise shot beyond goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to level the score.
Despite creating additional opportunities, Brazil was unable to find a winning goal during the remainder of the match.
Group Battle Remains Wide Open
The draw leaves both teams with one point as they begin their World Cup campaigns, keeping qualification hopes firmly alive heading into the next round of fixtures.
While Morocco earned praise for its disciplined performance against one of the tournament favorites, questions remain over Brazil’s defensive organization as the competition moves forward.
