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After Brazil’s relegation, Carlo surprises
After Brazil’s shock exit from the 2026 World Cup against Norway, Carlo Ancelotti found himself at the center of a firestorm of criticism, particularly after the technical decisions he made during the game, notably awarding a penalty to Bruno Guimaraes instead of Vinicius Junior.
The Italian coach has appeared At the meeting Whoever watched the match at MetLife Stadium remained unmoved despite the disappointment and spoke candidly about the reasons for the dismissal, defended his tactical choice and also revealed that the decision to select the penalty taker was not improvised, but based on research and statistics collected throughout the year.
Ancelotti began his speech by emphasizing the feeling of sadness after saying goodbye to the tournament, but stressed that this loss will not be the end of the project.
“We all feel deep sadness. I think we did well in the World Cup and deserved to win today’s game. Such a defeat is not the end, but rather the beginning of a new phase.”
As for how Brazil lost the game, the Italian coach confirmed his side were in control for long periods before Erling Haaland made the difference.
“The match was under control for 70 minutes, but in the end it was decided by Holland.”
Fan reaction… and the team’s future
As for his expectations of the Brazilian fans’ reaction after his early exit, he explained that his focus is on continuing to work.
“I don’t know how the fans will react. What we will do is continue to work, try to improve and look for new ideas.”
Ancelotti emphasized that the real work will begin after the tournament, noting that the national team has a good foundation on which to build.
He said: “Tomorrow we will start thinking about the future of this team, which includes a strong group of young players with experienced players who can continue, as well as new elements who can join the national team.”
Why didn’t Brazil opt out?
When asked if Brazil didn’t rely on high pressing, he explained that it was a tactical decision forced by Norway’s style of play.
He said: “It was difficult to press high as Norway relied on Martin Odegaard to mark and it was a big risk given Holland’s speed in one-on-ones.”
The Italian coach spoke about the changes made during the match, stressing that they came in order to provide the team with additional offensive solutions.
“We had chances in the first half and also in the second half when the score was still 0-0. We made substitutions to bring in new players who would add more depth to the squad.”
“Andrik came in to add more depth and he got a chance a minute or two after coming on. Neymar also came on to give the team more quality in the final third, while I replaced Bruno Guimarez because he was tired.”
The secret of the controversial penalty
The most interesting point of the press conference was his explanation for choosing Bruno Guimaraes to take the penalty, despite the presence of names such as Vinicius Junior and Neymar in the national team.
Ancelotti explained that the decision was based on careful analysis and long-term statistics, saying: “We collected a whole year’s worth of statistics for our players and club players. Neymar is the best penalty taker, followed by Igor Thiago, then Rafinha, then Bruno Guimaraes, then Gabriel Martinelli. We chose Bruno because we thought he was the best on the field at the time.”
Ancelotti admitted that there was a clear need to strengthen the midfield with new elements after the position’s influence declined following Casemiro’s departure.
He said: “It is clear that we need to include young, high-quality players in the midfield. We have promising talents in Brazilian football who can join the national team in the future.”
His personal values…and the locker room atmosphere
The Italian coach also referred to his personal philosophy, stressing that he does not strive to be an example.
He said: “I don’t want to be a role model for anyone. I’ve had this passion and enthusiasm since I was young, and this passion continues to this day.”
Ancelotti concluded his statements by talking about the psychological state of the national team camp after leaving the tournament.
“We are all deeply saddened and so are the fans. It’s a perfectly normal feeling after this loss, but we have to find the right way forward and build a better future.”
