Brazil and Maracanã had a closer relationship until September 3, 1989, when the national team faced Chile in a game marked by the scene of goalkeeper Rojas, who forged-then-injuries caused by a role thrown by a fan.
Brazil’s 3-0 win against Chile, on Thursday (4), for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, was the 14th match of the men’s football team in Maracanã since the episode Rojas-and exactly 36 years later. The game only happened at the stadium because Carlo Ancelotti asked the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
Estevão, Lucas Paquetá and Bruno Guimarães scored the goals of the quiet 3-0 win.
It was the first time of the Italian in Maracanã, and his third in front of the green and yellow team.
Ancelotti has lived in Rio de Janeiro since he was hired by CBF in May, and has been following the Brazilian teams in the city’s stadiums. He went to Maracanã twice and watched Flamengo’s victories for Libertadores, with crowded stands.
The coach’s two visits to Maracanã, in May and August, stopped the stadium’s internal corridors, with vigilante lines protecting him from the approach of fans.
He found a stadium without excitement on Thursday. Contained, the coach alternated crossed arms and hands in the jacket pockets. It was tiered by the public closest to the reserve bank, but neither he nor the holders had names shouted. Exceptions were Luiz Henrique, former Botafogo, and Lucas Paquetá, former Flamengo, who entered the second half.
Maracanã had a public of 57,326 people, for an income of $ 9.3 million.
Fans rehearsed some complaints during the first half. Stephen’s goal placated the noise, but the public showed coldness for much of the game. Still, the night pleased Ancelotti.
“Within Maracanã the atmosphere was very good, much affection to the team, which was intense, good pace, good defense and pressure. I think the fan is happy,” said Ancelotti, who has shown an effort to speak in Portuguese.
In the 1980s Brazil served 14 times in Maracanã – that games were for the 1989 Copa America. The match of the “Rojas Case” was the last of that period.
Brazil’s distancing with Maracanã has nothing to do with the Chilean goalkeeper episode. It illustrates the new age of the national team from the 1990s, with more games in the country, even as principal.
The 14 visits from the 1990s were more in times of fans distrust than optimism. Maracanã was a pressure cooker for Carlos Alberto Parreira’s team in 1993, which qualified for the World Cup with goals from Romário in the last round of the qualifiers against Uruguay.
Recently, the distrust stopped about Tite in 2021, losing the Copa America final to Argentina during the pandemic – there was no crowd – and Fernando Diniz in 2023. His game at the stadium was a defeat to Argentina, 1-0 marked by patch in the stands.
Luis Felipe Scolari, who won the Confederations Cup in Maracanã, and Tite, who beat Chile in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, were better better.
Some remnants of that game may sound like good guess of what the Italian considers the dorsal spine of the team.
Alisson, Marquinhos, Bruno Guimarães, Lucas Paquetá, and Gabriel Martinelli were in 2022 and this Thursday, and together with Vinicius Júnior seem to have vacancies sent to the World Cup.
Casemiro and Richarlison ceased to be summoned after the 2022 World Cup, but were once again on the calls with Ancelotti, who have them as trusted men.
The Brazilian team did not take a goal in the three matches under the command of Ancelotti.
“Modern football is in the hands of players in front. If they work well, the team defends well,” he said. “I am sure this team will compete with all the others.”
Ancelotti understands that competition in the Brazilian team is very large, with at least 70 players with the potential to defend it.
“With so many options, I’m sure to make a list of 25, or 26 names, it’s very complicated. It may be that another coach has less difficulty than me. But that’s positive”
