Brazil finally found their revenge against Croatia. In their highly anticipated first meeting since the devastating 2022 World Cup quarter-final exit in Qatar, the South American squad secured a definitive 3-1 victory. The “Road to 26” warm-up match officially concluded at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, giving Brazil a massive psychological boost just months ahead of the summer tournament.
The physical encounter tested both squads against elite opposition as they acclimatized to the United States environment. Brazil broke the deadlock right before the halftime whistle. Danilo found the back of the net deep into first-half stoppage time at the 45′ mark. The 1-0 advantage held for most of the second half. Both managers rotated their lineups to evaluate their tactical setups.
Croatia refused to fold. Lovro Majer leveled the match in the 84th minute to stun the partisan crowd. But Brazil responded with ruthless efficiency. Igor Thiago converted a critical penalty in the 88th minute to reclaim the lead. Gabriel Martinelli then sealed the result with a stoppage-time strike in the 92nd minute. He finished off a precise assist from Endrick. The fixture officially wrapped up with the South American side netting two rapid-fire goals in the dying minutes, according to a detailed report of the match.
Other major contenders are also making their final adjustments, with European heavyweights putting on dominant multi-goal performances this week. The pressure to finalize a starting eleven is mounting.
How Endrick and Martinelli Reshaped Brazil’s Late-Game Tactics
The final ten minutes in Orlando exposed a massive tactical evolution for Brazil. When Lovro Majer equalized in the 84th minute, the ghosts of the 2022 Qatar shootout loomed large. Four years ago, a late Croatian equalizer shattered Brazil’s defensive shape and forced an elimination. This time, the squad immediately accelerated their offensive tempo.
The introduction of Endrick and the aggressive positioning of Gabriel Martinelli completely overwhelmed the Croatian backline. Earning an 88th-minute penalty and converting a 92nd-minute open-play goal proves this current Brazilian iteration possesses the late-game killer instinct they previously lacked. This resilience drastically alters the power dynamics heading into the 2026 World Cup group stages. Opposing managers can no longer rely on Brazil collapsing under late defensive pressure.