No Estêvão. No Rodrygo. No Neymar in Cleveland. The injury gods have not been kind to Brazil ahead of this World Cup. And yet, on a warm Saturday evening at Huntington Bank Field, Carlo Ancelotti’s Seleção did exactly what they needed to do — win, show character, and serve up a reminder that even a depleted Brazil is still a dangerous Brazil. Oh, and hand a teenage superstar the stage to make his case.
Fast, Frantic & Full of Errors
The first eleven minutes of this match were a blur. Bruno Guimarães — Newcastle’s tireless engine room — opened the scoring in the 7th minute, pouncing on a sloppy piece of ball retention from Egypt defender Mohanad Lasheen and slotting calmly into the bottom-right corner. Brazil up, crowd roaring, job done. Or so it seemed.
Three minutes later, Brazil’s captain turned villain. Marquinhos — PSG’s colossus, ordinarily unflappable — played a catastrophic back-pass that gifted Egypt a golden chance. Mostafa Zico did not need a second invitation, firing past Alisson Becker to level the tie at 1–1. Eleven minutes played. Two goals. Two defensive howlers. Cleveland was getting more than it bargained for.
Enter Endrick. Exit Doubts.
At half-time, Ancelotti reached for the most exciting name on his bench. Endrick — the 19-year-old Real Madrid sensation, currently in red-hot form after a breakout loan spell at Lyon — came on alongside a raft of changes, including the introduction of Mohamed Salah on the Egyptian side. The stage was set.
It took Endrick precisely seven minutes to make his mark. Raphinha drifted into the box and pulled the ball back with the kind of vision only he provides — and there was Endrick, arriving in the six-yard area at exactly the right moment, converting with emphatic composure. 2–1. Brazil ahead. The kid delivered.
Egypt — to their genuine credit — pushed hard for an equaliser, with their Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir having kept out six Brazilian attempts across the evening. Salah lurked menacingly after his second-half introduction, but Brazil’s backline held firm, Alisson commanding his area with quiet authority.
Brazil’s Injury Crisis Heading into the World Cup
Estêvão (Chelsea) — hamstring injury vs Manchester United in April. Had scored 5 goals in his last 6 international appearances. Out for the tournament. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) — ACL injury, out for the World Cup. Ancelotti has called them “the ones he will miss the most.” Neymar’s inclusion is a direct consequence of Estêvão’s absence.
Brazil are still oozing with talent — Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Guimarães, and now a resurgent Endrick give Ancelotti serious options. But the absence of two likely starters leaves a squad that looks brilliant in flashes yet vulnerable to the kind of chaos that erupted in those first eleven chaotic minutes in Cleveland.
The World Cup kicks off June 11. Brazil open Group C against Morocco on June 16. Endrick has just given Ancelotti the best possible selection headache. The Seleção aren’t the finished article — but when that boy comes off the bench, they don’t need to be.
