'I need some confidence now': Vinicius Junior grateful for penalty goal against Australia

[p]The heat has been on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vinicius Junior[/a] in the early part of the 2026/27 season after scoring just one goal in eight competitive games for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a], with the club battling through an uncharacteristically slow start to be in their worst position (fourth) after seven La Liga rounds since 2017/18.[/p][p]The Brazilian admitted feeling some responsibility for Real Madrid's early season woes and conceded his own form has taken a toll on him psychologically. [/p][p]Vini bounced back during the international break to slot the penalty goal that iced [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a]'s 4-2 international friendly win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Australia[/a] on Tuesday, rolling the ball past Australian goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/beach-patrick/d6MmYtl5/"]Patrick Beach[/a] despite a stuttering and nervy run-up.[/p][embed guid="a45f7db4-d7f4-4016-af07-8c683102b740" url="https://x.com/TheGoalsZone/status/2104902439803744683" social-type="twitter" /][p]It was just the second penalty goal that Vinicius had scored for his country, with the responsibility usually handed to the currently injured [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raphinha/xtBsDPam/"]Raphinha[/a], and it was thanks to stand-in penalty-taker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bruno-guimaraes/xtyKanzU/"]Bruno Guimaraes[/a] agreeing to forgo his duties at the suggestion of head coach Carlo Ancelotti. [/p][p]26-year-old Vinicius said he was very thankful for the opportunity to convert the penalty he had won with his own dribble into the box. [/p][p]"[b]I thought[/b] (Bruno would)[b] want to take it, but he knows that I need a bit of confidence right now, in this moment,[/b]" Vinicius said.[/p][p]"My teammates know I need some confidence now.[/p][p]"[b]Losing a World Cup is hard and difficult to accept, and the comeback is never easy.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="44051700-a58d-4bb9-8516-fdf90e2a3b67" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ph-ONpkdEM" social-type="youtube" /][p]"[b]Here in the national team, we have no vanity whatsoever[/b]," Guimaraes added when asked about the goal.[/p][p]"Vini really needed to score a goal. He took it very well. We have no vanity whatsoever.[/p][p]"[b]We want what's best for Brazil. We're happy for him and it's about continuing the work.[/b]"[/p][p]Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/he-deserves-that-patience-brazil-boss-ancelotti-defends-vinicius-over-form/tdaOPBQO/"]called for everybody involved[/a] to show Vinicius some "[b]patience[/b]", describing him as "[b]a key player for the future.[/b]"[/p][p]Is he at his best right now? No, he isn't, but it is the start of the season," Ancelotti added.[/p][p]"And Vini, always, even when he isn't at his best, ‌he can still make the difference, ​just as he did today.[/p][p]"[b]The goal that ‌really opened up the game was thanks to him. So, I'm going to be very patient, because he deserves that patience.[/b]"[/p][infobox id="d39bc573-b9dd-4b87-acb9-2de1f22d36c7" /]