Bruno Guimaraes with a superb performance for Brazil and a very entertaining watch, unless you are Scottish…
I know they were up against average opposition but last night/this morning, it was the first time I have really thought that Brazil have a chance of winning this World Cup.
They tore through Scotland at will whenever they went through the gears, our friends north of the border lucky to still have any chance at all of qualifying for the knockout stages as one of the 8 best performing of the 12 third place teams.
Scott McKenna was robbed of the ball in his own penalty area in the 7th minute by Rayan, with Vinicius Jnr supplying a classy finish.
It should have been 2-0 but a very poor VAR decision denied Vinicius Jnr when this time Jack Hendry was caught in possession by the Real Madrid man himself and he coolly finished, a very soft foul. It just denied the inevitable though as Scotland couldn’t handle Brazil.
All credit to Carlo Ancelotti who could just be the man to model so many talented individuals into a real team. A key part of that is surely his decision to give Bruno Guimaraes far more freedom to get forward and create. No doubt inspired by the way Eddie Howe has used Bruno (Newcastle’s top Premier League scorer last season) in a more attacking sense, Ancelotti doing the same and getting the rewards. Previously it had been the norm for Bruno Guimaraes to be used as a defensive holding midfielder.
Scotland had somehow kept it to 1-0 until just before half-time Bruno Guimaraes produced a delicious cross and Vinicius Jnr left with a simple header for his and Brazil’s second goal.
On the hour an even better assist from the Newcastle United captain, Bruno Guimaraes bullied Kenny McLean off the ball and then produced a superb bit of skill to set up Cunha for an easy finish.
Brazil had plenty of other chances and whilst Scotland had a late charge and a few attempts on goal, in truth it should have been five or six for Brazil and Vinicius Jnr will be wondering how he didn’t get at least a hat-trick.
Scotland are thought to have a 30% to 40% chance now of progressing with three points and a -3 goal difference but really it should have been now a minimal chance with more goals in their net in this match leading to any hopes of qualifying disappearing.
Bruno Guimaraes is the first Brazilian player with three assists in the first three World Cup matches since the England 1966 World Cup.
Bruno and Vinicius Jnr were once again Brazil’s best two players and Goal put them joint top of their player ratings for this Scotland demolition job, saying this about the Newcastle United star:
‘Bruno Guimaraes (8/10): His pinpoint deep cross made Vini Jr’s job simple for the second. Wonderful composure to assist Cunha, too.’
The 2026 World Cup group games schedule for Newcastle United players:
Saturday 13 June
Morocco 1 Brazil 1 (Bruno Guimaraes assist for Vinicius Jnr equaliser)
Sunday 14 June
Curacao 1 Germany 7 (Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade unused subs)
Monday 15 June
Tunisia 1 Sweden 5 (Anthony Elanga introduced in the 91st minute when Sweden led 4-1)
Wednesday 17 June
Portugal 1 DR Congo 1 (Yoane Wissa with a brilliant headed goal to equalise just before the break)
Croatia 2 England 4 (Dan Burn an unused sub as England entertain!)
Saturday 20 June
Haiti 3 Brazil 0 (Bruno Guimaraes stars in comfortable win)
Ivory Coast 1 Germany 2 (Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade were unused subs)
Netherlands 5 Sweden 1 (Anthony Elanga brought on at 4-0 down and scored a cracking goal)
Tuesday 23 June
Ghana 0 England 0 (Dan Burn an unused sub in this bore draw for England)
Wednesday 24 June
Colombia 1 DR Congo 0 (Yoane Wissa played the full match as Colombia won with a 76th minute goal)
Scotland 0 Brazil 3 (Bruno Guimaraes with two classy assists to top off an excellent display)
Thursday 25 June
Ecuador v Germany (Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade) World Cup group match 9pm BBC
Friday 26 June
Japan v Sweden (Anthony Elanga) World Cup group match 12am BBC
Saturday 27 June
Panama v England (Dan Burn) World Cup group match 10pm ITV
Sunday 28 June
Uzbekistan v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) World Cup group match 12.30am BBC