The Brazilian media has offered a blunt response to Joao Pedro’s performance in Brazil’s 3-1 win over Croatia, suggesting the Chelsea attacker wasn’t at his best.
Joao Pedro was handed a major chance to stake his claim for a World Cup starting spot following Raphinha’s injury. Still, the Chelsea forward struggled to impose himself on a resilient Croatian defense.
Critics noted that while his hold-up play was occasionally effective, he appeared out of sync with Vinicius Junior, often failing to make the decisive runs required in Carlo Ancelotti’s fluid attacking system.
By the time he was substituted in the 75th minute, Pedro had failed to register a single shot on target, a stark contrast to his clinical form at Stamford Bridge.
For a player who has enjoyed a prolific season in London, this muted international display has raised serious doubts over whether he can be the reliable goalscorer Brazil needs for the upcoming tournament.
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Joao Pedro struggles for Brazil against Croatia
ESPN were one of the first to rate Joao Pedro’s performance against Croatia after giving him a 4.5 out of 10 for his display against France.
He had the freedom to leave the area, but when the ball arrived, he wasted a good opportunity to score for the first time. Rating: 6.0
Terra also reviewed Pedro’s performance.
In command of the attack, Joao Pedro had opportunities, but without great impact, participating in the offensive movement, but failed to transform presence into effectiveness.
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Joao Pedro’s slight dip in form at Chelsea
Joao Pedro’s debut season at Chelsea has developed into a bit of a rollercoaster. After joining from Brighton for £60 million last summer, the Brazilian forward has established himself as the focal point of the Blues’ attack, recording 14 goals and eight assists in 31 Premier League appearances.
His efficiency has skyrocketed under Rosenior, who has repositioned him from a drifting playmaker to more of a number nine. This tactical tweak resulted in a remarkable run of 10 goals in all competitions since mid-January, including a clinical hat-trick against Aston Villa in March.
However, he’s failed to score in the last couple of games and the negative results have followed.
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