Estevao's first start for the Brazilian national team after his World Cup heartbreak was supposed to be a moment that added fuel to one of Chelsea's more interesting selection debates.
Instead, it kind of did the opposite. The 19-year-old struggled to make a real impact on the game, and in doing so, he handed Xabi Alonso a stronger case for standing by a Cole Palmer in pain rather than a reason to change course.
There's no denying Estevao's talent, with his potential sky high. He remains one of the most exciting young attacking players at the club, and the long-term plan is obviously for him to become a fixture in Chelsea's forward line.
But talent alone is not enough to earn a starting shirt ahead of Palmer right now, and a subdued outing on the international stage does little to strengthen the case for him to do so at club level.
We saw flashes of that quality last season, but they were never consistent enough to seriously challenge Palmer when he was fit. That may have ultimately forced Chelsea’s hand in bringing in Rogers.
The performance
Brazil arrived in Australia looking to usher in a new era, with just eight members of their World Cup squad included in the selection. However, their clash with Australia showed that patience will be required as the Samba stars begin to take shape under Carlo Ancelotti.
Estevao started on the right alongside Raphinha and Vinicius Jr., with Endrick leading the line, and the Chelsea star quickly emerged as Brazil’s biggest attacking threat in the first half. His disallowed goal showcased his quality, combining neatly with a teammate before producing a composed finish into the bottom corner. It was a glimpse of the clinical edge he can bring to the attack.
He also fired another effort wide (pretty wide in fact) and produced several good dribbles, repeatedly carrying Brazil up the pitch and providing the attacking spark during the opening 45 minutes.
However, Estevao was unable to maintain that influence after the break as Australia grew into the game. He was eventually replaced by Rayan, who looked the more dangerous of the two and went on to score Brazil’s equaliser, rescuing a draw for the visitors and easing the pressure on Ancelotti.
Estevao will have another opportunity on Tuesday to make his mark, impress Ancelotti and strengthen his claim for a regular place in this new-look Brazil side.
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