Chelsea winger Estevao Willian could not contribute to Brazil’s opening game against Morocco at this year’s World Cup.
Estevao had to be left out of Brazil’s squad after sustaining a serious hamstring injury towards the end of the season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team drew 1-1 with Morocco, and now the Brazilian media have drawn the same conclusion after that match.
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Brazil missed Chelsea’s Estevao Willian
The feeling in Brazil is that the Selecao did not look like their usual selves without Estevao and missed having him on the right wing.
Lance! wrote: “Without Estevao and Wesley, the right side of Carlo Ancelotti’s team was uncharacteristic.”
Globo also stated: “Considering the 70 minutes, the second half was better. But it was ‘better’ in terms of the short time Ancelotti has had as manager, and considering the absence of four starters (Rodrygo, Estevao, Militao and Wesley) — three who would have solved the problem on our right side.”
Estevao was not the only Chelsea player who was not selected for the Brazil squad. His teammates Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos also missed out but for different reasons.
Igor Thiago started up front but struggled, so there may be some regrets over excluding Pedro from the 26-man list.
However, Estevao is the one who has the ability to be a real game changer and get the crowd going. He is terrific at beating defenders one-v-one, which you would expect from a Brazilian winger.
Brazil still had Vinicius Jr and Raphinha, who are capable of doing that, and it was the former who equalised for the Selecao after they went 1-0 down. But having Estevao as an option from off the bench could have made a difference.
The good news for Estevao is that he is still so young. At 19, the former Palmeiras player could still feature at another three World Cups!
A bright future does not make what happened at the end of last season any less of a blow, though. Estevao did not even sleep upon hearing how serious his hamstring injury was.
He was desperate to play at this World Cup, and Brazil look like they desperately need him after failing to beat Morocco. Despite being a teenager, he is still an important player for both club and country.
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