Five Things We Learnt from Brazil 1-1 Morocco

Brazil vs Morocco - Five Things We Learned

It wasn't quite the rip-roaring World Cup classic we were all expecting it to be, but Morocco's gutsy performance against favourites Brazil remained an intriguing beginning to both side's World Cup beginnings.

1 - Casemiro Might be Finished

Casemigos vs Morocco:

45 Minutes (Hooked)
0 Tackles
6/8 Ground Duels Lost
Dribbled 3x

LEAVE THE FOOTBALL BEFORE IT LEAVES YOU 🙏 pic.twitter.com/9sZCQKhoWI

— Hater Central (@TheHateCentral) June 13, 2026

Leave no doubt about it, Casemiro is a legend of the modern game. However, that performance from the veteran was just sad.

His role in the midfield pivot with Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes was tipped to be one of the Selecao's most important aspects, but the veteran of the two looked a mile or four off the pace amidst a breathless Morocco press.

He's likely off to the MLS this summer, which may just be more his modern speed.

2 - Morocco Deserve Their 'Dark Horse' Tag

My favourite thing about this generation of Morocco is that they have absolutely no respect for any opponent and always play at the same intensity.

I admire them a lot.

— E (@Ellis_) June 13, 2026

They thrilled the world and got a lot of neutrals onside amidst their amazing run to the semi-finals in 2022, and Morocco look a much better nation than even then if tonight was anything to go by.

Ayyoub Bouaddi had an outsanding display, and the North African nation's technical prowess was well on display throughout the affair. With Scotland and Haiti still to come, they will likely cruise through to the knockout rounds and likely deep into those. They were so fun to watch tonight.

3 - Bouaddi is the Bollocks

💎 | He's something special

Ayyoub Bouaddi among all Moroccan players in #BRAMOR:

• Most touches (86)
• Most accurate passes (60)
• Most ball carries (23)
• Second-most ground duels won (9)
• Second-most successful dribbles (3)

An 18-year-old in only his third Morocco… pic.twitter.com/EV2X9GxV3S

— Sofascore Football (@Sofascore) June 14, 2026

What a player this young man is - he was our personal Man of the Match, and controlled the midfield against a formidable foe with a sense of composure and intelligence far beyond his years.

Still only 18 and plying his club trade with Lille in France, it seems only a matter of time before he shoots right to the top.

4 - Brazil Won't Win the World Cup

Morocco's pressing against Brazil pic.twitter.com/LggPE4kHLI

— 🇦🇱☣️ (@BaldeWaves) June 13, 2026

Maybe a harsh claim from just one match, but that was not the performance of a team ready to go all the way.

Their team is a far cry away from the one of old that witnessed so much success, and they were largely second best against a Morocco side that will feel as if they have dropped two points.

Not even 'Don Carlo' or a returning Neymar will coax this team to the Jules Rimet.

5 - The 'Big' Matches Will Flop This Year

I didn’t mind who won but man the match got kinda boring after the 70th minute #ngl fair play to both sides tho

— Freaky Bagel (@ReverseRose) June 14, 2026

This was tipped as one of the must-see fixtures of the entire group stage for this World Cup, but it was a rather profound disappointment.

Two goals within 15 minutes of each other showed signs of a promising match, but the second half was a tired affair despite a few fluttering chances.

With five other matches so far to compare it to, all of which were deemed as more 'low-key' than this one, it seems an early warning shot of the smaller fixtures being the ones to entertain being the lay of the land in North America.