Brazil secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Japan in the World Cup last 32 on Monday, with substitute Gabriel Martinelli scoring a stoppage-time winner. Carlo Ancelotti remained calm throughout, insisting he never doubted his team would recover.
Ancelotti’s half-time message
“At half-time I told the players to be patient because sooner or later we would score,” Ancelotti said. “What was important was to keep our structure. We know we’re going down the right path and we have to continue on this path.” Japan had taken the lead through Kaishu Sano in the first half, and Brazil looked ineffective, raising fears of a first-ever group-stage exit. However, Casemiro equalised before Martinelli’s late winner marked the first time Brazil have come from behind to win a World Cup knockout match since the 2002 quarter-final against England.
Brazil’s tactical adjustment
“At first we were trying to achieve superiority in midfield, to infiltrate,” Ancelotti explained. “It didn’t work because their marking was really tight. They were really closed off. We changed at the interval to try to penetrate their area a little more. We crossed some balls and got forward better, so this is an evolution.” He also noted that he told Neymar he would be brought on if Brazil hadn’t equalised by a certain point, though the 34-year-old has only played 15 minutes in the tournament so far.
Ancelotti: ‘Most complete game’
Despite Japan’s strong first half, Ancelotti called this Brazil’s “most complete game” of the tournament. “We were not lost in the first half like [in the draw] against Morocco. You have to suffer, that’s part of it.” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu acknowledged the gap is closing: “The gap between us is closing now. Brazil are a top team but we are definitely approaching that level. There were moments when Japan were controlling the game and the defence has become firmer. But if we are to beat these powerhouses we have to improve further.”
