Danilo gave a frank interview on Wednesday afternoon (17), at the hotel where the Brazilian team is based in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. With a slight delay due to a battery of anti-doping tests conducted by FIFA (International Football Federation), it dealt with several topics and recognized that the national team is behind some of the World Cup powers.
“We have to be clear,” he stated, in his first response. “Not creating an identity, with constant exchanges, influences. If you have a plan, something built, cohesive, when the situation gets difficult, you stick to it. We didn’t build that, it’s something clear and obvious.”
The 34-year-old defender was referring to the team’s troubled cycle, which saw its president removed and a change in command of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) last year. Carlo Ancelotti is the team’s fourth coach since the last World Cup and has been in charge for just over a year.
“I had already said this after the friendly against France. We don’t have the maturity, as a team, that France has today. We don’t have it. Which doesn’t mean that we can’t do a good job, win, go far”, he stated, initially referring to the 2-1 defeat in the friendly held in March.
The French team, which won the 2018 World Cup and was again in the final in 2022, has had the same coach, Didier Deschamps, since 2012. In this scenario, in Danilo’s view, it is necessary for Brazil, even with its five stars on its shirt, to adopt a humble behavior.
“Our tools have to be different, another type of mechanism. Maybe having a lower marking, not pressing so much, accepting that possession of the ball and command of the game can belong to the opponent. That’s maturity. It’s knowing that, in a gap, we will score the goal, with Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Rayan, Endrick…”, he said.
“The other teams have improved a lot, football has evolved. The difference between winning, losing and drawing is very short, thin,” he added, before making a reservation. “Brazil is in the front row, it always will be. This will only change if a very big disaster happens and we stop producing players.”
The defender praised the current CBF organization. According to him, although it is still structurally behind in relation to the powers of the last World Cups, the team has gained a direction that can yield results in the future. At present, reality is harsh to the point where a confrontation with Haiti is considered decisive.
“They asked me about a rout. It would be crazy for me to say anything about that. We need to enter tactically well positioned and play a safe game”, he declared, regarding Friday’s match (19). After the 1-1 draw with Morocco and gaining a point, Brazil needs to win to avoid suffocating in Group C.
At a certain point in the interview, Danilo even congratulated former player Zinho, a starter in winning the four-peat in 1994, now a commentator for ESPN. He remembered that he helped build a five-star team. “This was not built by us. Our role is to honor this and, with a lot of dedication, a lot of spirit, fight to put another little star on the shirt. It would be wonderful.”
