How Argentina Dominated a Lacklustre Brazil side.

Argentina’s dominance in South America has been undeniable over the past five years. With two Copa America titles and a World Cup triumph, they’ve claimed continental bragging rights over their fiercest rivals. Despite talking a big game in the lead up to the clash, Brazil couldn’t break down or over-power an Argentina team driven by such comments.

Brazil has fall from great heights in the last decade but last night’s game they showed they have a real issue to overcome if they look to compete for world cup glory next summer. Once World champions, filled with generational talent in every position; the squad has been rendered to averageness. Individual glory is nothing if the team fails. Scaloni’s Argentina had Brazil on the edge from the beginning. They won multiple battles, mental and physical, up and down the pitch.

Both teams had important players missing for the fixture. Brazil rocked up to enemy lines without centre-backs, Gabriel and Éder Militão, who were undeniably a massive loss. Goalkeepers, Alisson and Ederson were also both absent, whilst Neymar Jr missed out due to a muscle injury. The absence of Bruno Guimarães left a big gap to fill in the midfield. Argentina were without attackers Lisandro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, and most notably, Lionel Messi. Defender Lisandro Martinez missed out due to sustaining an ACL injury earlier in the season. Despite the injuries, both managers fronted a strong starting XI, filled with world-class talent. Injuries must be considered, but both had crucial absences, and one team still came out miles on top.

Brazil’s midfield setup was flawed from the beginning. They lined up with Matheus Cunha- a striker – playing as a ten and slightly ahead of midfielders, Joelinton and André. This created an imbalance that left them outmanned, outmuscled, and outplayed. Even with substitutions, they ended the game with a trio of Savinho (a winger), Ederson, and João Gomes – none of whom could match Argentina’s midfield dominance. Talent and experience weren’t the issue, but watching Brazil just isn’t the same anymore. Both Ederson and Gomes are excellent at controlling matches - sitting deep, retaining possession, and adding strength - but they lacked the creative spark to change the game.

In contrast, Argentina stacked their midfield with numbers. While Brazil fielded just two natural midfielders, Scaloni’s side started four - Parades, Mac Allister, De Paul, and Fernández – five if you include Thiago Almada, who shifts between midfield and the wing in club football. This overload allowed Argentina to dictate the tempo, dismantling Brazil from the core. With seamless transitions from back to front, Argentina dominated the midfield battle. The world champions outthought and outplayed their opposition, using their numerical advantage to take complete control of the game. Argentina won the midfield battle - by a mile.

Brazil’s attack also game them issues. Brazil boasts a world-class attacking trio in Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Raphinha, but with no true striker among them, their attack lacks variety. All three occupy similar roles, and against Argentina, it simply didn’t work. With zero goal involvements, they went missing in the chaos.

For large portions of the game when Brazil were on the attack, Vinicius dropped out to the wing – where he is the most comfortable – but this left the box empty due as Vinicius was the player who was playing as a number nine. Brazil’s manager, Dorival Júnior, brought Endrick on for the second half, but he was ineffective. Brazil’s midfield and wingers failed to provide him any chances, leading to Endrick finishing the game with zero shots or chances created. Without Cristian Romero’s mistake at the back, which led to Cunha’s goal, the visiting side would’ve failed to register a single shot on target.

Argentina, meanwhile, had a clear structure. Julián Álvarez led the line as a natural no. 9, supported by Enzo Fernández in attack and Almada dropping wide. The result? A dominant performance, reflected in the stats: 7 shots on target for Argentina, 0 for Brazil.