Brazil Opener
Morocco just gave Brazil homework.
Morocco drew Norway 1-1 in New Jersey, and Brazil's first opponent did not look like a soft welcome mat.
Brazil's first World Cup match is now closer than the theory version of Brazil. The opener comes against Morocco on June 13, and Morocco's 1-1 draw with Norway is exactly the kind of warm-up result that makes a favorite's first game feel less automatic.
Hespress reported that Morocco went ahead through Youssef En-Nesyri before Martin Odegaard equalized late for Norway at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey. The score was not spectacular, but it was useful. Morocco looked capable of turning Brazil's first match into a real football problem instead of a branding exercise.
For Brazil pickers, this is where the tournament starts getting annoying in a good way. The draw does not mean Morocco are suddenly a favorite over Brazil, but it does show they can carry danger, defend moments and make the match awkward.
That matters because early World Cup games are traps for overconfident brackets. A draw in the opener, one weird set piece or one star having an off day can make a champion pick feel nervous before the tournament has even warmed up.
The Tako Picks takeaway is not to panic. It is to stop treating Brazil's opener like a free space. If you pick Brazil as champion, you need to believe they handle this kind of uncomfortable first step.