Four of Brazil’s goals in the 6-2 victory over Panama, on Sunday night (31), were scored in the second half, with a team almost entirely different from the one selected in the first – only defender Léo Pereira remained on the field. The victory was established in the final stage, and the performance of the reserves at Maracanã was praised by Carlo Ancelotti.
“The performance in the second half was an important performance. The players who came on showed quality”, stated the coach, noting that “the opponent lowered their pace and intensity” after the break, which made the task of those who were used in the final half easier.
“The possibility of changing the team, changing the game strategy crosses my mind. The game in the second half gives me one more doubt. For me, this is very good, a positive doubt. Obviously, the team is not 100% defined. We will evaluate calmly and make the right decision. I am sure of one thing: there will be 11”, joked the Italian.
Rayan, Paquetá, Igor Thiago and Danilo Santos scored off the bench and earned points with the coach. The one who took the best advantage of the chance was Paquetá, who replaced Matheus Cunha, in a similar role: without the ball, he scored on the left side; with it he had the freedom to act in the environment. That’s how he found the net and left Danilo Santos in front of the goal.
“The team was balanced, and Paquetá’s performance was very good. He had quality in possession of the ball, scored, assisted. It was a Paquetá match at a very high level”, said the coach, who promised to remain mysterious. “Until the World Cup I want to create a little suspense or we won’t have a topic to talk about. It’s a help for you, because the Neymar topic is over.”
The “Neymar theme” was the one that dominated the first days of Brazil’s preparation for the World Cup, at Granja Comary, in Teresópolis. The 34-year-old striker reported an injury to his right calf that was more serious than what he said he had. His cut was considered, but the decision was to wait for his recovery.
The expectation is that the athlete will be available from the first or second match of the World Cup. Without him, Ancelotti adopted two formations with different characteristics against Panama. In the first half, with Raphinha and Vinicius Junior at the front, with speed and counterattack. In the second, with more control of ball possession.
In the Italian’s view, Brazil has “fast players, good one-on-one”. Therefore, even if he considers the possibility of a specific substitution, he will not change his plan to adopt the tactical plan from the initial stage. “Playing possession football will not bring out the best characteristics of our players.”
The athletes were released after the match in Rio de Janeiro and will perform again on Monday afternoon (1st), at a hotel in Barra da Tijuca. The delegation will visit the headquarters of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) and depart at 8pm for Galeão airport, from where it will head to New York.
