Brazil forward, Gabriel Martinelli, has credited coach Carlo Ancelotti for inspiring the team’s dramatic comeback victory over Japan, saying the Italian’s calm approach at half-time gave the players confidence to overturn a first-half deficit and reach the FIFA World Cup round of 16.
Brazil recovered from 1-0 down to beat Japan 2-1 in Houston, with Martinelli scoring the winning goal deep into stoppage time after Casemiro had cancelled out Japan’s opener early in the second half.
Speaking after the match, Martinelli said Ancelotti never panicked despite Brazil trailing at the interval.
He said, “Ancelotti is a surreal guy. At half-time, he gave us confidence, he told us that we would score and come back. It didn’t matter when the goal would be scored. We sensed his calmness. It relaxed us.”
Ancelotti urges patience
Making his first appearance as a head coach in a World Cup knockout match, Ancelotti said Brazil’s players remained composed even after falling behind.
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He said, “We didn’t lose patience. Things were already going well in the first half. In the second half, we put more crosses in the box. We have a lot of options on the pitch and on the bench. Japan aren’t easy opponents; they’re well organised, very intense.”
The Brazilian coach also stressed the importance of mentality in knockout football.
“You make mistakes in football. It’s impossible not to make mistakes, because no one’s perfect. But we know how to keep going. That’s what the team did very well in the second half. Nobody thought that we’d fail to score.
“The mental side of things is important. It’s normal to suffer. It’s nothing new, especially in the modern game. Suffering is just as normal as relief,” he said.
Tactical changes pay off
Ancelotti reshaped his attack at half-time after replacing the injured Lucas Paquetá with Endrick.
The substitution gave Brazil greater presence in the penalty area, helping to stretch Japan’s compact defensive setup.
Midfielder Bruno Guimarães said the tactical adjustment proved decisive.
“It was very congested and we didn’t have space to play our game. They defended effectively in a 5-4-1, making it hard for us to penetrate. In the second half, the gaffer told us to be more imposing and get more bodies in the box, and that’s where the goal came from,” Guimarães said.
Players praise mentality
Brazil winger Rayan also revealed that Ancelotti’s message focused on patience rather than panic.
“He told us to be patient because we are a team that always looks to control the game and score goals. We knew we would turn the game around and leave victorious,” the winger said.
Ancelotti’s decision to keep Casemiro on the pitch despite the midfielder receiving an early yellow card also paid off. The veteran headed Brazil’s equaliser in the 56th minute after a cross from Gabriel Magalhães.
Casemiro said the coach repeatedly urged the team to remain calm, saying, “In the second half, Ancelotti called for calm once more.
“He insisted that we keep calm because we were pressing and playing high up the pitch, so the chances would come. The team deserves credit, particularly for our mentality. We kept pressing and attacking.”
Cunha highlights urgency
Matheus Cunha said Brazil combined patience with greater urgency after the break.
“It’s never easy facing opponents like that. We could see just how much pride they play with on the pitch.
“I believe that after we came out with the mentality of wanting to put the game to bed, of wanting to impose our style on the game, it all worked out in the end. In the first half we tried to do almost exactly the same, but our sense of urgency made the difference in the second.”
Brazil’s victory secured a place in the round of 16, where they will face either Ivory Coast or Norway.
Martinelli’s stoppage-time strike completed Brazil’s comeback and reinforced Ancelotti’s reputation for staying composed under pressure.
