In this Friday’s friendly match (10) against South Korea, coach Carlo Ancelotti should rely, for the first time at the head of the Brazilian team, on the attacking duo formed by Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.
According to the Italian coach, the objective for the match against the Koreans is to have a team that, in addition to defending well, is also able to create more plays when in possession of the ball, bringing danger to the opponent’s goal.
“I really liked the defensive game in the June and September matches. The team defended very well, compact, united, with commitment, intense. Where they have to improve, and I believe that tomorrow is an opportunity, is in the game with the ball”, said Ancelotti in an interview with journalists this Thursday (9), in Seoul.
“This is where the team has to show the quality it has with the individual players, because it has a lot of quality,” added the coach.
In the last match in the Qualifiers, Brazil was defeated 1-0 by Bolivia, in a game under the strong influence of the altitude of the city of El Alto, but in which the national team also faced serious difficulties from the middle forward.
At the time, Vinicius Junior, who was suspended for the previous match against Chile, ended up not being called up due to the coach’s choice. Rodrygo, who started the season for Real Madrid starting most of the matches on the bench, will receive his first chance with Ancelotti in the national team in the friendlies against Korea and Japan.
In the merengue team, the trio won together the titles of the Champions League (2021/22 and 2023/24), the Spanish Championship (2021/22 and 2023/24) and the Intercontinental Cup (2024), in addition to the UEFA Super Cup (2022 and 2024), the Spanish Super Cup (2021/22 and 2023/24) and of the Copa del Rey (2022/23).
Although he is not playing as regularly for the Spanish team, every time he came on Rodrygo played well and demonstrated that he was in good physical condition, said Ancelotti.
The coach also said that the striker is “very important” for the team, as he can play in different attacking positions. “I believe he can add a lot to the national team.”
The last time Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo played together for the Brazilian team was at the end of March, in the 4-1 defeat to Argentina, which ended up resulting in the dismissal of coach Dorival Júnior.
Back with the national team, Rodrygo celebrated the opportunity and said he felt prepared to take on the challenge in the team’s attack alongside Vinicius Junior.
“It seemed like an eternity. I went through a lot of things during that time. But it was good to reflect, cool down and get my head straight. Today I feel ready to be here again. To deliver my best and show my best version in football”, said the 24-year-old striker.
The Brazilian team will face a team that arrives strong. In the last 19 matches, South Korea had only one defeat, against Japan – in a match that was not valid for the Qualifiers –, with another 12 wins and 6 draws, being the only Asian team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup undefeated.
The team’s main name is striker and captain Son Heung-min, 33, who played for a decade at Tottenham, in the Premier League, where he won the Europa League in May, before moving to Los Angeles FC, in the United States, for US$26.5 million (R$141.5 million) — the biggest signing in the history of the MLS (North American football league).
Against Brazil, Son must complete 137 matches for the national team, becoming the player who has defended the Korean team the most times in history.
In addition to Son, Korea has other important names on the international scene, such as defender Min-jae, from Bayern Munich, and attacking midfielder Kang-in, from Paris Saint-Germain.
The record is largely favorable to the Brazilian team. In eight clashes so far, Brazil has won seven and lost only one, in a friendly played in 1999. In the last meeting, in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup, Brazil won 4-1, with goals from Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Richarlison and Lucas Paquetá.
Technical sheet: South Korea x Brazil (Friendly)
Local: Seoul World Cup Stadium
Time: 8am (Brasília time)
Arbitrator: Abdurahman Ibrhaim Al-Jassim (QAT)
Transmission: Globo, SporTV and Ge TV
Brazil: Benedict; Vitinho, Éder Militão, Gabriel Magalhães and Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paquetá; Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and Matheus Cunha
Technical: Carlo Ancelotti
South Korea: Seung-gyu; Moon-hwan, Min-jae, Yu-min, Ju-sung; Jae-sung, Jin-gyu; Kang-in, Du-jae, Castro; Son Heung-min
Technical: Hong Myung-Bo
