The Seleção ended the year without shining: Estêvão scored from the spot, Paquetá wasted the victory. Solid and dangerous Tunisia in Lille
This time it’s not a Brazil that excites. After the victory against Senegal, the national team led by Carlo Ancelotti closes the 2025 calendar year with a disappointing 1-1 against Tunisia, who also qualified for the 2026 World Cup. The Africans advance through Mastouri, the green and gold equalize with Estêvão on a penalty. In the second half Paquetá wasted the penalty for a possible overtaking by kicking it to the stars. The friendly match was played in Lille, France.
CaMBI
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Brazil takes the field with several changes compared to last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Senegal. Bento replaces Éderson in goal. Roma player Wesley defends on the right, while Éder Militão – full-back against Senegal – returns to the center of the rearguard next to former Giallorossi player Marquinhos. On the left space for Caio Henrique for Alex Sandro. In the middle the usual Casemiro-Bruno Guimarães duo. Confirmed at the front are the quartet Estêvão, Matheus Cunha, Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo. Trabelsi’s Tunisia lines up with a 3-5-2: Dahmen; Meriah, Talbi, Bronn; Valery, Shkiri, Sassi, Hannibal, Abdi; Saad, Mastouri.
WESLEY MISTAKE
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Balanced match at the start, with Brazil more dangerous: in the 9th minute Rodrygo was denied the goal by Talbi. But in the 22nd minute a lightness from Wesley opens the way for the Tunisian lead: Saad steals the ball, Abdi launches Mastouri who beats Bento one-on-one. Rodrygo is the most inspired of the Seleção and challenges Dahmen with a free kick in the 37th minute. The Africans, supported by a large part of the Lille crowd, confirmed themselves as Senegal’s toughest opponents, but in the 38th minute it was Rodrygo who came close to equalizing again.
PENALTY
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French referee Jérôme Brisard, recalled by VAR, awards a penalty to Brazil for a handball by Bronn. From the spot, Estêvão wrong-footed Dahmen and made it 1-1. We go into half-time in balance, with Tunisia aggressive and well organised.
ANCELOTTI’S MOVES
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Brazil returns with two changes: Wesley out (goal error and already booked), former Juventus player Danilo in; Matheus Cunha out in attack to make room for Vítor Roque. The South Americans attacked with more continuity, but in the 54th minute Saad came close to hitting Bento’s post on the restart.
PAQUETÀ MISSES A PENALTY
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The match loses intensity, then in the 77th minute Sassi holds back Vítor Roque: another penalty for the Seleção. This time Paquetá, who replaced Bruno Guimarães, shoots, but his right-footed shot goes over the crossbar. Too many changes compared to the previous match and too many also during the match (six): Brazil appears poorly mixed, but Ancelotti wants to test variations in view of the World Cup. In the 49th minute Estevão hit the post: the last sign of a bad evening for Brazil.
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