Brazil opened their post-World Cup cycle with a 1-1 draw against Australia on Friday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. The goal that spared them defeat came on the last play of the match: Rayan rose to meet a Raphinha corner, and the ball glanced off goalkeeper Beach and the crossbar before crossing the line.
A half without chances
Carlo Ancelotti sent out Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Marquinhos, Vitor Reis and Douglas Santos; Danilo and Bruno Guimarães; Estêvão, Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior; Endrick.
Brazil did put the ball in the net in the 45th minute, through Estêvão, but the referee disallowed it for a foul by Bruno Guimarães earlier in the move. It was the clearest opening of a half in which the visitors held possession without turning it into shots, and Hugo Souza had to keep them level with a good save from an Irankunda effort.
The free kick that broke the deadlock
In the 67th minute Irankunda struck from a free kick — a goal that reopened the debate over Hugo Souza's positioning behind the wall. Trailing, Brazil failed to create a clear chance for the next 20 minutes, and Ancelotti went to his bench: Douglas Luiz, Pedro and Samuel Lino replaced Bruno Guimarães, Endrick and Vinícius Júnior, followed by Rayan, Jair and Mauro Júnior for Estêvão, Vitor Reis and Douglas Santos.
Rayan, on late, settled the result with the final touch of the game.
What comes next
Two fixtures remain in the international window. On Tuesday, Brazil meet Australia again at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. On 3 October they face India at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata — the first meeting between the two national teams, according to Agência Brasil.
The schedule doubles as a laboratory for a squad in transition, with the 2028 Copa América and the 2030 World Cup ahead. On the evidence of Townsville, the problem Ancelotti has to solve is creation: one goal in 90 minutes, and it came from a set piece.
With information from Agência Brasil and CNN Brasil.
