📹 Matheus Cunha rules out Brazil revenge against Croatia in friendly, watch | OneFootball

Brazil takes the field this Tuesday (31) in Orlando for its final major test before the final squad announcement for the 2026 World Cup — and it comes against a special opponent: Croatia.

The Croatians were responsible for eliminating Brazil in the last World Cup.

For attacking midfielder Matheus Cunha, however, the mood in the locker room is not one of “revenge,” and there is no room for resentment.

In a press conference on Monday (30), he highlighted the importance of facing a European powerhouse at this crucial stage of the cycle.

According to the player, the experience of testing themselves against national teams at the top of the world game is essential for the development of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.

“Croatia and France are national teams on the highest shelves of world football. Normally, we don’t get many experiences like these matches. We play within South American football. It’s wonderful to have this opportunity. There’s no way to see it as revenge; we see it as an opportunity. We want to go out there and come away with the win, because there is no other mindset with this shirt than to win the match.”

Group morale and the 'Ancelotti Effect'

Despite the 2-1 defeat to France last Thursday, Cunha assured that the team’s confidence remains unshaken. He stressed that the setback, although frustrating, also showed that Brazil still has “a lot of room for improvement” with two months to go before the World Cup.

“It hasn’t changed our confidence at all. You journalists, the fans, and we players all have the same idea of what to do: win the World Cup, just like the great idols. Regardless of the defeat, which leaves us disappointed, it also shows us with a certain calm that we are on the right path.”

Asked about the tactical adjustments proposed by Carlo Ancelotti to break through Croatia’s strong defensive system, Matheus Cunha indicated that Brazil’s attacking essence will be maintained, even against an opponent that plays more defensively.

“Tactically, he (Ancelotti) is always talking to us so we can adapt. Croatia has a different style of play, more compact. Without a doubt he will prepare us for a different match, but without losing our personality.”

Faith, togetherness, and the weight of the shirt

Born in João Pessoa, Paraíba, the forward also spoke about his relationship with fans from Brazil’s Northeast and revealed that he prefers to be remembered for his commitment to the group, setting aside any personal vanity. For him, dealing with the pressure and the limited training time during FIFA windows requires resilience and focus on the ultimate goal.

“Back in João Pessoa, there must be a lot of promises being made... Having faith and moving forward is very motivating. If we can bring all that together and it helps us on a successful path, we’ll gladly take it. For me it’s very clear: whenever I wear this shirt, I never seek the spotlight. The simplicity of helping our teammates — that is very clear to me. More than anything, that’s how I want to be remembered.”

The friendly against Croatia takes place at 9 p.m. this Tuesday at Camping World Stadium.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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