Ancelotti praises newcomers in Brazil win, says “doubts grew” | OneFootball

Coach Carlo Ancelotti was pleased with the performance of the newcomers to the Brazil National Team after the friendly win over Croatia this Tuesday in Orlando. The Italian praised the players who got their first opportunities under him during this FIFA window and admitted he now has more doubts regarding the final squad for the World Cup.

“What pleases me most is that the younger players took their opportunity. That increases the doubts for the final squad. Igor Thiago, Léo Pereira, Danilo, Endrick and Kaiki [Bruno] did very well. That is a positive sign for the team. Now we will continue evaluating what happens in the European leagues and in the Brazilian Championship,” Ancelotti said at a press conference.

“On the right track”

The coach believes Brazil is “on the right track” ahead of the World Cup. He admitted the team dropped off in the second half against Croatia, but approved of the overall performance.

“I think the team played very well. It was very solid, intense. The idea was to play like that. We have things to improve, but, as I said after the game against France, we are on the right track,” he said.

“In the first half, we played well on the ball and did a good collective job off the ball. After that the team dropped the tempo, and Croatia know how to play football. We had more problems, but I think overall it was a good game,” he added.

Ancelotti also explained why Endrick did not take the penalty that he himself won. The coach said Matheus Cunha was supposed to take it, but since the striker was no longer on the pitch, the choice was Igor Thiago, who had performed well in the latest training sessions.

“In the game, the one who was supposed to take the penalty was Matheus Cunha. Since he had gone off, Igor Thiago is a very good penalty taker. We practiced penalties yesterday, and he trained very well,” he explained.

Anxiety through the roof?

With just over 70 days left until Brazil’s World Cup opener, Ancelotti says he is not anxious. The coach says he is “motivated” and “confident” for the tournament.

“I’m not anxious. I’m happy, motivated, confident and calm. I think we have a good team structure, a good atmosphere, and we are working well. I’m calm,” he concluded.

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Brazil’s schedule until the World Cup

This was the Brazil National Team’s last test before coach Carlo Ancelotti announces the final squad for the 2026 World Cup. The list will be released on May 18, in less than 50 days. On the 25th, the group will begin preparations for the World Cup at Granja Comary, in Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro.

The team’s last match on home soil will be on May 31 against Panama at the Maracanã. The delegation will travel to the United States on June 1 and will have one final test before the start of the World Cup, against Egypt in Cleveland on the 6th.

Brazil are in Group C of the World Cup. The group also includes Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.

Brazil’s opener will be on June 13 against Morocco in New Jersey. Six days later, on June 19, the team will face Haiti in Philadelphia. The Canarinho will close out its group-stage campaign on the 24th against Scotland in Miami.

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