Brazil vs Japan: Carlo Ancelotti calls for “mind, heart and a clear idea” in Round of 32 | Football news
Five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil booked their place in the Round of 32 as Group winners with seven points and now face Japan in Houston. Ahead of the knockout tie, coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted his side must rely on “mind, heart and a clear idea” to keep their World Cup campaign alive.Brazil suffered a slow start to the tournament, being held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening match. However, the Seleção bounced back impressively with back-to-back 3-0 wins over Haiti and Scotland. The seven-point haul, coupled with a +6 goal difference, ensured that Brazil finished top of their group for the 12th consecutive FIFA World Cup, a streak that dates back to the 1982 edition.Japan also advanced to the Round of 32 unbeaten. They opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, beat Tunisia 4-0, and secured qualification after a 1-1 draw with Sweden.With both teams entering the knockout stage undefeated, Ancelotti expects a demanding contest and believes Brazil must be mentally and emotionally prepared for any possible scenario.“We need many things: our minds and our hearts,” Ancelotti told reporters at the pre-match press conference. “We have to be prepared for everything that can happen in an elimination game because many things can happen, extra time, penalties. We have prepared for every scenario. I think the team is ready. It is motivated and confident. We have played well in our last two games, so we have prepared for everything that tomorrow brings,” he added. The Italian manager also reminded his players that there is no room for error from this stage forward.“It’s not a knockout with two legs. It’s just one match,” Ancelotti said.“There is no going back. Brazil has intelligent players who understand this. We are a strong team that knows how to prepare for these types of games, and I am convinced that we can meet the challenge,” said Ancelotti with confidence. Brazil and Japan last met in a friendly last October, when the Asian side recovered from two goals down to win 3-2 in Tokyo.
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