Ancelotti reveals reason for Brazil's World Cup exit

Brazil's national team coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has reflected on the team's performance during the recent World Cup, acknowledging that injuries to key players significantly altered his strategy. Despite the disappointment of their exit, Ancelotti praised the overall organization and positive impact of the players throughout the year leading up to the tournament.

“

I think we lost the World Cup during the refreshment break against Norway. Why? Because the team had controlled the course of the match up to that point.

"The job done during the year was excellent. Logistically, the Brazilian national team was very well organized, from the hotel to the stadiums and training grounds," Ancelotti stated in an interview with ESPN. He also affirmed that the 26 selected players were the most suitable for the tournament.

However, Ancelotti pointed to a series of injuries, including those affecting Militão, Rodrygo, Estêvão, Wesley, and Raphinha, as major setbacks. "We have to consider that the plan made last year changed a little due to injuries. We had many problems in the period between March and the World Cup," he explained.

“

Maybe my mistake was thinking that the team had lost control of the game, although that was not actually the case.

The Italian coach identified a specific moment during Brazil's Round of 16 match against Norway as the turning point. "I think we lost the World Cup during the refreshment break against Norway," Ancelotti revealed. He elaborated that while Brazil controlled the game's flow, Norway possessed the ball for significant periods. Ancelotti suggested his tactical changes after this break might have been a mistake, leading to a loss of control and ultimately Erling Haaland's decisive goal in the second half.

“

When you concede a goal in the 30th minute of the second half at a World Cup, it is very difficult to come back.