Brazil v Morocco: Predicted XI, Scoreline & The Shirt

Brazil v Morocco. June 13. Group C opener.

This should be a routine win for the five-time world champions. It is not going to be routine. Militão is out. Vitor Roque is out. Rodrygo is out. Ancelotti is going to his first ever World Cup with a squad missing three of the players he was building the system around. And Morocco have a new manager who has spent the last two months trying to rewrite how the Atlas Lions defend.

This is the most interesting Group C opener of the summer. Possibly the most interesting opener at the entire tournament.

Our call: 1-1. And if Brazil do nick it, 2-1 with a late scramble, not a comfortable stroll.

Brazil's Injury Crisis

Let's not dress this up. The Selecão went into April with three significant absentees and limited time to adjust.

Éder Militão had a hamstring relapse. Vitor Roque went under the knife and needed two months minimum to recover. Rodrygo — Vinicius Jr's co-pilot in wide areas — also unavailable.

That is your starting right back (probably), your depth striker option, and a wide forward who stretches defences. Gone. Before the tournament. In the group stage.

Ancelotti has won leagues, Champions Leagues, managed the biggest egos in world football without breaking a sweat. But this is his first World Cup and he is walking in with a patchwork backline and an attack that relies on Vinicius Jr to do things that only Vinicius Jr can do.

Opta gave Brazil a 5.6% chance of winning the tournament at the draw. The injuries have not improved that number.

Brazil's Makeshift XI

Ancelotti will likely set up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. The defensive shape matters most here.

At centre back, with Militão unavailable, you're looking at options like Gabriel Magalhães or Marquinhos anchoring. At right back, the post-Militão era has not yet been conclusively resolved.

Vinicius Jr starts. That is the only non-negotiable. He will be