While the boardroom battle rages, Ancelotti is focused on the pitch as Brazil prepare for a round of 32 showdown against Japan in Houston. Despite the VAR controversy, Vinicius Jr managed to find the net later in the game, and Matheus Cunha added a third to ensure Brazil topped their group with ease. Ancelotti remains optimistic about the team’s progression despite the off-field distractions.
“Now we are playing as a team, that is the goal. We are not perfect, we have things to improve. We can be a little quicker when we have control,” Ancelotti told reporters after the final whistle. “I’m happy because the team has improved a lot, now we are solid. In the knockout stage, solidity is very important. We have a solid team. Compared to the first game, we are making fewer mistakes, we have more rhythm, and we are more effective up front.”
