Brazil is one of the most anticipated teams. In my opinion, they had a fairly good opening match but have not shown the appearance of an absolute championship candidate. Brazil controlled the ball a lot, created pressure and knew how to impose the game, especially after being led by Morocco. However, this team still revealed limitations in changing positions and taking advantage of opportunities.
The biggest positive point is that Carlo Ancelotti's mark has begun to appear. Brazil played more organizedly, knowing how to control the pace of the match and not being drawn into an overly emotional game like before. Vinicius continued to show his leading role in attack, while Ancelotti's personnel adjustments also helped the team maintain pressure in the second half.
However, the draw against Morocco shows that Brazil still has a certain gap compared to the complete version that fans expected. They created many opportunities but lacked sharpness in decisive situations, and at the same time the defense still had moments of distraction and let the opponent exploit gaps. I believe the next 2 matches against Haiti and Scotland will show more clearly Selecao's readiness for the journey to conquer the 2026 World Cup.
On the night of June 15 and early morning of June 16, there are some notable matches. I am waiting for how Spain will show the position of the defending EURO champion right from the opening match. Cabo Verde is not an opponent of the same level, but this is an important test to see how La Roja operates in World Cup conditions, where the pressure and intensity are completely different from the qualifying round.
Spain will easily deal with the opponent, but what I am most concerned about is the midfield. Rodri is still in the process of finding his best condition after a long-term injury, while Pedri and Gavi also need to be very well managed physically. This will be an opportunity for coach Luis de la Fuente to assess the depth of the squad as well as the rotation ability of options like Martin Zubimendi.
In attack, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are still names that bring many expectations. Spain possesses many young talents, but the World Cup is a completely different stage. I want to see if they can make a difference against disciplined and physically strong opponents.
Regarding the match between Belgium and Egypt, I think this will be one of the most watchable matches in Group G. Belgium is rated higher thanks to stable form, squad depth and impressive series of matches in the past time. Under Rudi Garcia, they are showing a balance between experience and youth, and also possess many different attacking options.
However, Egypt is not an easy opponent to subdue. They have a well-organized defense system and are especially dangerous in situational transitions. Just need Salah or Marmoush to have space, this team can completely make a difference.
In my opinion, the key to the match lies in Belgium's ability to penetrate the Egyptian defense. If they score early, they can control the game. Conversely, if they let the opponent drag them into a stalemate, the pressure will increase significantly. However, with the current quality of the squad and form, Belgium still has many grounds to aim for victory.
