Vinicius Jr rescues Brazil in 1-1 draw with Morocco at World Cup

Vinicius Jr said on the eve of Brazil's opening World Cup game that he was not there to be the best player of the tournament.

"I am here to help Brazil get back to the top," he said.

The forward backed up his words on the pitch at the New Jersey New York Stadium. Trailing Morocco 1-0, Brazil got back on level terms thanks to a moment of brilliance by Vinicius.

Receiving the ball on the left side of the penalty area from Bruno Guimaraes' pass, the Real Madrid forward cut back inside on to his right foot before lashing a strike into the roof of the net.

It was a goal that saved Brazil from losing their first opening game at a World Cup since 1934. Yet they were unable to seal an opening win in Group C, with the match ending 1-1.

Former England captain Alan Shearer told BBC Sport it was a "ragged" Brazil performance. South American football expert Tim Vickery said: "Ideally you want the team to make the stars, here you have a case of the star saving the team."

Brazil fans worried by this performance should remember that this expanded World Cup is a marathon not a sprint. Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in their first game in Qatar four years ago before going on to win the title.

Brazil, seeking a first World Cup triumph since 2002, are still expected to progress. They face Haiti next in Philadelphia on 19 June and Scotland in Miami on 24 June.

There will be concern that they looked second best to Morocco for long spells. This squad is overloaded with wingers and is lacking numbers in midfield.

Casemiro, 34, showed his age as he toiled in the heat before he was replaced at half-time. Morocco had taken the lead through Ismael Saibari. Defender Roger Ibanez also failed to return for the second half as Carlo Ancelotti attempted to address the team's shortcomings.

"We were expecting more from them," former Uruguay and Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet told BBC Sport. "I was surprised how bad technically they were today."

Vickery added: "This is precisely why Brazil are so dangerous. How many teams can play that badly and still be in the game? It's the individuality."

At the age of 67, this was Ancelotti's first game as a head coach at a World Cup. "This is a beautiful moment for me," he said on the eve of the match.

In the end he was forced to apologise following his team's lacklustre performance in the stifling New Jersey heat. "I am sorry we didn't play as well as we hoped," the Italian said in his post-match media conference.

The Italian, the first overseas coach to lead Brazil at a World Cup, was brought in after a poor qualifying campaign. Brazil finished fifth in the South American qualifying table after six defeats in 18 games.

"This is the first match of the World Cup," Ancelotti said. "It wasn't a bad result but we will keep picking up. We have to do better, that's very clear. We have to have a more balanced team and we have to be more aggressive."

Vinicius' goal was his 10th for Brazil, with three of those coming on US soil. "This is where Vinicius Jr comes into his own," former England goalkeeper Joe Hart told BBC One. "He cuts in, smashes it past Bono. What a moment."

Vinicius said on Friday that this was "the most important time in my life and career." "I feel great freedom and sincere trust from Ancelotti," he added. "I want to try to write the history of the country and the national team. We must do everything to win."

Brazil came up short against Morocco. Failure at this tournament, after a 24-year title drought, would lead to serious questions about how the most successful team in World Cup history moves forward.