Ancelotti assesses Brazil's World Cup opener and eyes next games

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Coluna do Fla

·14 Juni 2026

Ancelotti assesses Brazil's World Cup opener and eyes next games

Carlo Ancelotti also said he does not have a defined starting lineup for Brazil

First of all, the Brazil National Team drew 1-1 with Morocco in their World Cup opener on Saturday (13). In short, Brazil’s goal was scored by the player developed by Flamengo, Vini Jr. After the match, coach Carlo Ancelotti assessed the team’s performance and admitted the players were anxious.

What was Ancelotti’s assessment?

— I think we didn’t start the game well, the team was a little worried, we lost a lot of balls, a lot of duels. The first half was not good. It improved in the second half; it’s a difficult game because Morocco are a good team. A bit of anxiety, I think so, yes. In the first half they played through our pressure and created dangerous transitions. We could have had more control, he said.

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Besides analyzing the Brazil National Team’s debut, Ancelotti made it clear he was not happy with the draw against Morocco: “I’m not satisfied (with the result). We have to work to improve, but it’s normal. Morocco played well, were very organized, and it was a very difficult match,” he said.

What other parts of the press conference stood out?

Why did it take so long to make changes to the team?

— Well, I made two substitutions in the 45th minute (at the start of the second half) and another in the 59th. You understand? Two changes in the 45th minute, another in the 59th. I don’t think I wasted any time making substitutions.

Can the team improve through talks, or do you need to change the lineup?

— I have to make use of the squad and not be fixed. I said yesterday that the starting lineup was not the one that would finish the game. The players who came on played well.

What needs to improve?

— The team fought until the last minute, and I’m very clear about what we have to improve. What we did well in the two friendlies did not come off well in the first half. We have to keep working to have a more balanced team and be more aggressive up front.

Can the draw with Morocco shake the team’s confidence?

— Absolutely not. You can think that, for many reasons, the opener doesn’t go the way you want, but we have to keep going and prepare well for the next match. The goal is to qualify, get through the group stage, and improve over time.

Can the team change?

— It can change, depending on the characteristics of the opposing team.

How do you assess Vini Jr.’s performance?

— He played well, he was very dangerous. I believe in all the quality he has. He’s going to have a great World Cup.

And the support from the fans in the stadium?

— It really is very nice to have all that atmosphere, to have all that support in the stadium. It’s a shame we didn’t play exactly the way we wanted.

Did any Flamengo players play against Morocco?

Yes! In short, Lucas Paquetá was the only Flamengo player in the starting lineup for the Brazil National Team’s World Cup opener. As a result, the red-and-black midfielder completed 31 of the 39 passes he attempted against Morocco. However, the coach substituted the No. 20 for Matheus Cunha in the second half.

In addition to Lucas Paquetá, Ancelotti also brought on Danilo in place of Ibañez in the second half. Meanwhile, playing as a defensive midfielder for the Brazil National Team, the player completed 32 of the 38 passes he attempted. In addition, the No. 13 also made one interception and blocked one shot.

What does Brazil’s group look like?

Finally, with the draw, Brazil and Morocco each have one point in World Cup Group C. However, Scotland lead the group with three points after beating Haiti in a match played at 10 p.m. (Brasília time) last Saturday (13).

Scotland – 3 points
Brazil – 1 point
Morocco – 1 point
Haiti – 0 points

What is Brazil’s next match?

With four Flamengo players available, the Brazil National Team will face Haiti starting at 7 p.m. (Brasília time) next Friday (19). The match will take place at Philadelphia Stadium in the United States, with live broadcast on Rede Globo on free-to-air TV.

What other broadcast options are there for Brazil’s matches?

In addition to Rede Globo, SBT, on free-to-air TV, is also showing Brazil’s World Cup matches. On YouTube, Brazilian fans have two other options: GE TV and CazéTV. Finally, Coluna do Fla is keeping an eye on everything involving Flamengo players at the World Cup.

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