In case you didn’t already know, Brazil are the No. 1 team in the world and the favorites to win the 2022 World Cup. And they showed why in their final tuneup match before the World Cup, a 5-1 win over fellow World Cup participant Tunisia at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
The African side hadn’t conceded a single goal in seven straight matches and they found themselves down 4-1 and down a man at halftime after a straight red card for a foul committed on Neymar.
Raphinha had two goals, Neymar scored on a penalty, and Richarlison also found the back of the net in the first 45 minutes. During Richarlison’s goal celebration, video surfaced of a banana tossed in the player’s direction from the pro-Tunisia crowd, which also used laser pointers and whistled during the Brazil anthem in the pregame.
The racist gesture came on the heels of global headlines in recent weeks surrounding the racism endured by Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. while in Spain with his club team Real Madrid. In response to the racism, Vinicius Jr vowed to continue to engage in his trademark dance celebrations and other Brazilian players around the world joined him in a gesture of solidarity.
Brazil danced on Tuesday night in Paris and they added a fifth goal in the second half through backup forward Pedro who got in on the action. Tunisia, the No. 30 team in the world which at one point had leveled the score at 1-1, only had a handful of attacks in the second half as Brazil comfortably managed the rest of the match, introducing a raft of substitutes.
The Brazilians will kick off their participation in the World Cup with a Group G match against Serbia on Nov. 24 before facing Switzerland (Nov. 28) and Cameroon (Dec. 2). Tunisia opens on Nov. 22 against Denmark in Group D play which will also see France and Australia.
Brazil’s one weak spot
All you need to do is look at the squad list that Brazil manager Tite has at his disposal. It’s so deep that the question of whether Arsenal’s in-form forward Gabriel Jesus can make the World Cup squad is actually a debate that’s happening in the media.
Now you can add Flamengo’s Pedro to the names of players who have a legitimate case for traveling to Qatar. He’s a different type of forward than Gabriel Jesus, and he delivered off the bench against Tunisia.
But Tunisia may have exposed Brazil’s Achilles heel which — no surprise — is on the defensive side of the ball. The Tunisia goal on a set piece header showed that to be an area of vulnerability. And Brazil were also scrambling whenever Tunisia attacked on quick transitions. Any team that fancies beating Brazil in Qatar will need to perfect this aspect of the game to hurt them.
Latest racist incident targeting Brazilians
Despite the goals, the stars, and the quality on display, the match will be discussed for an incident that had nothing to do with the action.
While Spanish football is still managing through the fallout and what are expected to be harsh sanctions for the racist behavior by some Atletico Madrid fans toward Real Madrid’s Brazilian stars Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, the duo and the rest of their Brazilian teammates were subjected to another incident. A banana was thrown from the Parc des Princes stands at Richarlison during his goal celebration.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was in the stadium and is sure to be briefed about the incident. The question is what, if any, consequences will there be since it was a neutral ground (the Parc des Prince in Paris) with a partisan Tunisian crowd.
LAMENTÁVEL! 😡
Mais uma vez, os jogadores brasileiros são vítimas de racismo!
Até quando? Quando teremos punições severas? O mundo não pode ter espaço pra isso! pic.twitter.com/tbsEqYIoQS
— LANCE! (@lancenet) September 27, 2022
Neymar nears Brazil record goal mark
Neymar was at the center of the action, and although he didn’t get on the scoresheet during the run of play, he got his 75th goal in a Brazil shirt via a penalty kick. It was one of his patented spot kick attempts with a casual run-up and a side-footed finish.
The 30-year-old PSG star, who was playing on his home field, is now just three goals away from breaking Pele’s record of 77 career senior international goals.
Neymar becomes the 15th different player to reach 75 international goals in men’s soccer.
He is 2 goals shy of tying Pelé’s record for most goals all-time with Brazil (77). pic.twitter.com/aCrz7pcp6U
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 27, 2022
Brazil vs Tunisia final score
1H | 2H | Final | |
Brazil | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Goals:
BRA — Raphinha (Casemiro) — 11th min.
TUN — Montassar Talbi (Ben Slimane) — 18th min.
BRA — Richarlison (Raphinha) — 19th min.
BRA — Neymar (penalty) — 29th min.
BRA — Raphinha (Richarlison) — 40th min.
BRA — Pedro — 74th min.
Brazil vs Tunisia live updates, highlights from friendly
Final: Brazil 5, Tunisia 1
90th min.: SUB Tunisia. Manchester United’s Hannibal Mejbri comes on for Aissa Laidouni.
82nd min.: SUB Tunisia. Yan Valery enters for midfielder Ben Slimane.
78th min.: SUBS Brazil. Roger Ibanez makes his debut replacing Marquinhos, while Rodrygo takes over for Fred.
77th min.: Chance Brazil! They’re not done. Casemiro wanted to get in on the act and nearly beat the ‘keeper low.
74th min.: Goal Brazil! The ball finds its way to an unmarked Pedro who knows exactly what to do with the first-time volley past the Tunisian ‘keeper. It’s 5-1.
¡GOLEA BRASIL! 🤩
Pedro pone el quinto para la Canarinha 👏
🍿 Disfruta el 🇧🇷 Brasil vs. Túnez 🇹🇳 en vivo por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
🔗: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9pic.twitter.com/oSm1DxvLEH
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 27, 2022
65th min.: SUBS Brazil. Antony (for Raphinha) and Renan Lodi (for left-back Alex Telles) are now in the game.
62nd min.: SUBS Tunisia. Wahbi Khazri is on (for Ghalylene Chaaleli) and takes the captain’s armband. Also, Taha Yassine Khenissi is in for Youssef Msakni, who tried to draw a penalty in the box moments before coming off. There was nothing there.
59th min.: Tunisia put the ball in the back of the net, but the ball went well over the end line before the cross was delivered. Meanwhile, the cameras show France manager Didier Deschamps in the stands.
France 🇫🇷 coach Didier Deschamps watching Brazil 🇧🇷 vs Tunisia 🇹🇳 pic.twitter.com/PEh6OjfWVh
— Eric Njiru (@EricNjiiru) September 27, 2022
54th min.: Slower start to this second half. Tunisia, down to 10 men, are packing it in and don’t want to concede more goals. The new players brought on for Brazil are still working themselves into the game. Brazil is controlling the proceedings and knocking it around.
46th min.: SUBS for both teams to start the second half. Vinicius Jr (wide left for Paqueta) and Pedro will play center forward (for Richarlison). Tunisia bring on Nader Ghandri for Seifeddine Jaziri.
Halftime: Brazil 4, Tunisia 1
Halftime: This is what you get when you make Brazil angry. First fans were whistling at Brazil’s national anthem, then there were laser pointers, and then the ultimate insult came in the form of bananas tossed on the field after Richarlison’s goal. The videos immediately made their way all over social media.
In the face of this, the Brazilians are scoring, they’re dancing hard, and they’re looking for more goals. You get a sense that they want the crowd to remember this game. For Neymar and Marquinhos, who call the Parc des Princes home, the treatment from the crowd likely stings even more.
Na comemoração de Richarlison, foi arremessada uma banana em direção ao jogador da seleção brasileira. @s1_live pic.twitter.com/6zjC4OVZto
— Isabelle Costa (@bellexcosta) September 27, 2022
Mdrrr le regarde de Marqui quand l’hymne du Brésil a été sifflé 😭pic.twitter.com/AwLflkpyuZ
— M|Miotto (@Maxmiotto_) September 27, 2022
It’s not everyday that Brazil puts four goals in a first half. They’re motivated, and against a team that didn’t give up a goal in their last seven matches and is now down a man (red card in the 42nd minute), you can probably bet on seeing more goals.
4 – Brazil have scored four first-half goals in a match for the first time since beating Bolivia 5-0 in October 2016. Rampant. pic.twitter.com/GjQU8sBfD5
— OptaJoao (@OptaJoao) September 27, 2022
To think that the Brazilian side took a stand against racism in the pregame. They took the field with jackets that didn’t have Brazil’s five stars representing their five World Cup titles. The banner they held on the field read: “Without our Black players, would wouldn’t have stars on our shirt”.
Hoje os jogadores do Brasil entraram em campo com as jaquetas sem as estrelas em cima do logo da CBF
Faz parte de uma campanha contra o racismo, como mostrou uma faixa que os jogadores tiraram foto depois
“Sem nossos jogadores negros, não teríamos estrelas na nossa camisa.” pic.twitter.com/ywzH9Wdu6t
— HTE Sports (@HTE__Sports) September 27, 2022
42nd min.: Red card to Tunisia’s Dylan Bronn! The defender kicks out at Neymar with the ball long gone and he gets the straight red card from the referee. Tensions are high in this match.
40th min.: Goal Brazil! It’s Raphinha with his second of the match. The ball goes from the left side to the right side of the box, where he blasts a first-time shot that takes a deflection and beats the Tunisian ‘keeper.
Reminder: This is a Tunisian team that didn’t give up a single goal in their last seven matches.
¡GOLEA BRASIL! 🤩
Raphinha marca su segunda diana de la noche 👏
🍿 Disfruta el 🇧🇷 Brasil vs. Túnez 🇹🇳 en vivo por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
🔗: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9 pic.twitter.com/wPeRha1zaV
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 27, 2022
29th min.: Goal Brazil! Neymar slots home a penalty with laser pointers in his face on his home field. The referee made the penalty decision after Aissa Laidouni pulled down Casemiro in the Tunisian box on a corner kick. Casemiro embellished, but the call stood.
¡GOL DE BRASIL! 🥳
Neymar amplía la ventaja 🔥
🍿 Disfruta el 🇧🇷 Brasil vs. Túnez 🇹🇳 en vivo por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
🔗: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9 pic.twitter.com/osvfaQJHBK
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 27, 2022
25th min.: Stoppage in play. There are laser pointers being used by fans in the stands and the referee walks over to the fourth official’s table. He asks for an announcement which happens over the stadium sound system within seconds. The pro-Tunisia crowd greets the message with whistles.
22nd min.: Yellow card shown to Neymar. Neymar nicks defender Dylan Bronn and gets a yellow for it, but Bronn stays on the ground and milks this. He felt the Brazil captain should’ve been sent off, but Neymar can’t believe he even got a card for that.
19th min.: Goal Brazil! And just like that Brazil are back in front. It was Richarlison, who was at fault on the Tunisia set-piece goal. He beat the Tunisia offside trap, took it off his chest and drilled it into the ground and past the ‘keeper.
¡VUELVE A PONERSE POR DELANTE BRASIL! 👀
Richarlison le devuelve la ventaja a la canarinha 🤩
🍿 Disfruta el 🇧🇷 Brasil vs. Túnez 🇹🇳 en vivo por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
🔗: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9 pic.twitter.com/QvClo96CBo
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 27, 2022
18th min.: Goal Tunisia! On a set piece delivered by Anis Ben Slimane, Montassar Talbi heads it past Alisson. And the Parc des Prince erupts.
¡EMPATA TÚNEZ! 😳
Montassar Talbi marca el 1️⃣-1️⃣ en París 😱
🍿 Disfruta el 🇧🇷 Brasil vs. Túnez 🇹🇳 en vivo por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
🔗: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9 pic.twitter.com/lNlqbvVQwS
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 27, 2022
11th min.: Goal Brazil! Raphinha drifts into the center and Casemiro launches a pinpoint ball which Raphinha heads over the ‘keeper and under the crossbar. That wasn’t an easy finish.
It’s the first goal given up by Tunisia under their new coach.
¡GOLAZO DE BRASIL! 🔥
Raphinha abrió el marcador con un cabezazo 🤩
🍿 Disfruta el 🇧🇷 Brasil vs. Túnez 🇹🇳 en vivo por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
🔗: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9 pic.twitter.com/p61cRkCZhQ
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 27, 2022
7th min.: Lucas Paqueta with a chance. He’s all alone on the left side of the box but can’t get his shot on target. Missed opportunity.
¡LA TUVO PAQUETÁ! 😳
🍿 Disfruta el 🇧🇷 Brasil vs. Túnez 🇹🇳 en vivo por beIN SPORTS XTRA Ñ.
🔗: https://t.co/fJV1gI8QT9 pic.twitter.com/WMxCSlARvC
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) September 27, 2022
3rd min.: That was unexpected. Neymar getting whistled on his home field of the Parc des Princes. There’s a large Tunisian crowd on hand and they’re clearly the most vocal side in Paris. They’re even doing the “ole” chant as their team passes it around. Tunisia are the home team.
1st min.: We’re off and it’s immediately notable that Danilo is playing in midfield, appearing to be partnering with Casemiro, with Brazil going with three center-backs. We’ll see if it stays that way.
2 mins from kickoff: Anthems are out of the way, handshakes are taking place and we’re moments away.
60 mins from kickoff: Neymar’s chase of the Brazil scoring record will be another storyline on the night.
Neymar is calling in help to break Pele’s record 😅 pic.twitter.com/cEPsZ5lcMm
— GOAL (@goal) September 27, 2022
Brazil vs Tunisia lineups
Eder Militao and Vinicius Jr get a rest on the night, with Danilo and Fred replacing them in the starting lineup and requiring some shuffling of positions, namely Lucas Paqueta shifting wide and Fred playing in central midfield. Alex Sandro and Bruno Guimaraes are unavailable due to injury.
Brazil starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Alisson (GK) — 2-Danilo, 4-Marquinhos, 3-Thiago Silva, 6-Alex Telles — 8-Fred, 5-Casemiro, 7-Lucas Paqueta — 19-Raphinha, 9-Richarlison, 10-Neymar
Brazil subs (14): 23-Ederson (GK), 12-Weverton (GK), 16-Renan Lodi, 22-Bremer, 13-Roger Ibanez, 14-Eder Militao, 15-Fabinho, 11-Everton Ribeiro, 18-Antony, 26-Rodrygo, 24-Roberto Firmino, 20-Vinicius Jr, 21-Matheus Cunha, 25-Pedro
Under manager Jalel Kadri, who took over in January, Tunisia have proven a tough team to break down, emphasizing defensive structure. They’ve earned shutouts in all seven of his matches at the helm and will have their work cut out for them against the prolific Brazilians.
Tunisia starting lineup (4-4-2, right to left): 16-Aymen Dahmen (GK) — 20-Mohamed Drager, 6-Dylan Bronn, 3-Montassar Talbi, 9-Mortadha Ben Ouanes — 17-Ellyes Skhiri, 25-Anis Ben Slimane, 18-Ghalylene Chaaleli, 28-Aissa Laidouni — 7-Youssef Msakni, 19-Seifeddine Jaziri
Tunisia subs (13): 1-Mohamed Debchi (GK), 22-Bechir Ben Said (GK), 2-Bilel Ifa, 30-Yan Valery, 15-Omar Rekik, 12-Ali Maaloui, 24-Remi Kaib, 5-Nader Ghandri, 14-Hannibal Mejbri, 26-Chaim El Djebali, 27-Issam Jebali, 13-Ferjani Sassi, 29-Sayfallah Ltaief, 10-Wahbi Khazri, 11-Taha Yassine Khenissi, 8-Saif-Eddine Khaoui
Brazil vs Tunisia TV channel, live stream
UK | USA | Canada | Australia | |
Date | Tues, Sept. 27 | Tues, Sept. 27 | Tues, Sept. 27 | Wed, Sept. 28 |
Time | 19:30 ET | 14:30 ET | 14:30 ET | 04:30 AET |
TV channel | — | beIN Sports Xtra | beIN Sports Xtra | — |
Streaming | — | fuboTV, beIN Connect | fuboTV Canada, beIN Connect | — |
UK & Australia: The match will not be televised in the UK and Australia
USA: The match will be televised by beIN Sports Xtra, which is streamed on fuboTV.
Canada: Similar to the USA, the match will be televised on beIN Sports Xtra, which is also streamed on fuboTV Canada.
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