Ancelotti on missed penalty: Bruno Guimarães was the best option

Following Brazil's unexpected 2-1 elimination by Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, coach Carlo Ancelotti analyzed the team's defeat at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He addressed the controversial decision regarding the penalty kick missed by Bruno Guimarães.

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We chose Bruno because we thought he was the best option on the field. Our technical staff compiled statistics to determine which players had the best success rate.

"We chose Bruno because we thought he was the best option on the field. Our technical staff compiled statistics to determine which players had the best success rate," the Italian coach commented. He further detailed that Vinícius Júnior was never considered among the penalty takers.

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Among those available, the best was Neymar, then Igor Thiago, Raphinha, and then Bruno.

"Among those available, the best was Neymar, then Igor Thiago, Raphinha, and then Bruno," Ancelotti stated. He stressed that this loss is not final but marks the start of a new cycle with fresh ideas. "The work done was good, but football is like that. Tomorrow we will start thinking about the future and we will manage this defeat with new momentum," he concluded.

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This defeat is not the end, but the beginning of a new cycle with new ideas. The work done was good, but football is like that. Tomorrow we will start thinking about the future and we will manage this defeat with new momentum.