Carlo Ancelotti’s choice not to put Endrick on the field in the 1-1 draw with Morocco, in the opening match of the World Cup, in New Jersey (United States), had repercussions inside and outside Brazil, sometimes in an ironic way. Sixteen days have passed and now the coach is considering starting the striker in the duel for the round of 16 of the World Cup, against Norway or Ivory Coast, this Sunday (5), at 5 pm (Brasília time).
With the injury to midfielder Lucas Paquetáwho needed to be replaced at halftime of this Monday’s match (29), against Japan, in Houston (United States), Endrick was chosen to go to the field. At the time, Brazil was losing 1-0. The Brazilian team ended up with a second goal at the end of the second half.
“Yes, we can start this way [com Endrick no lugar de Lucas Paquetá]. We needed more strength in the area and Endrick could provide that strength and presence. He played a very good game because he was intense and dangerous”, said Ancelotti, in a press conference after the match in Houston.
The arrival of the former Palmeiras striker was also a reflection of a change in attitude throughout the confrontation. If in the first half the unsuccessful strategy was to seek infiltration from within, Brazil started to put pressure on the Japanese defense with balls thrown into the area. There were 25 crosses during the match. One of them resulted in the equalizer, from midfielder Casemiro.
Game review
“We had problems in the first half looking for opportunities because Japan was very closed. We looked for solutions, with more crosses and presence in the area. I think it’s an evolution. If in the other game we had no problems finding space, this time it was different, but we managed to solve it well in the second half”, assessed the coach, citing the 3-0 victory over Scotland, last Wednesday (24), in Miami (United States), in the group stage.
Since 2002, when they beat England 2-1, in Shizuoka (Japan), in the quarter-finals, Brazil didn’t know what it was like to turn into a World Cup knockout game. Coincidentally, that was the edition of the Brazilian team’s last world title. More than a good omen, this Monday’s triumph signals, for Ancelotti, the team’s maturity.
“I was confident [mesmo em desvantagem no placar] because the team started well. Then we found it difficult to force Japan, which is a respectable team, very dangerous and with strong players in duels. But [o Brasil] it was not a lost team like in the first half against Morocco”, said the coach, minimizing errors such as when full-back Danilo gave the ball to the feet of midfielder Kaishu Sano, during the Japanese goal.
“Football has mistakes. We have to think ahead. No one thought the team wouldn’t draw. Suffering is normal, especially in modern football. How normal the relief is”, concluded the Italian.
