Soccer-Ancelotti stays calm as Brazil seek fixes against Haiti

Soccer-Ancelotti stays calm as Brazil seek fixes against Haiti

The Star Online - Sport·2026-06-19 11:00

PHILADELPHIA, June 18 (Reuters) - ⁠Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti was not in panic mode after his side's World ⁠Cup campaign opened with a splutter, saying Friday's Group C meeting with ‌Haiti was a chance to repair the flaws exposed in their 1-1 draw with Morocco.

The five-times champions needed a flash of brilliance from Vinicius Jr to rescue a point in their opener after Ismael Saibari ​had given Morocco an early lead.

Now comes Haiti in Philadelphia ⁠on Friday, a match Brazil ⁠will be expected to win against one of the tournament's minnows, who began with a ⁠1-0 ‌defeat by Scotland. Ancelotti remained confident in his side's ability.

"You don't win the World Cup in the first match," the Italian told reporters in Philadelphia on ⁠Thursday.

"The players' self-criticism was very positive. I think we'll sort ​out the problems; I ‌remain confident that we'll be competitive."

Ancelotti, who took charge a little over a ⁠year ago, gave ​little away about his team selection but suggested he would make adjustments rather than wholesale changes.

"We're going to make a few changes... Improve our balance and our play," he said. "We can ⁠do better and we have to do better."

Ancelotti also ​said the weight of the yellow shirt may have affected his players in their opening match.

"The first half was a bit unexpected; it may be that the pressure of wearing ⁠the shirt in the opening match affected the players' mental state a little," he said.

"Getting off to a good start was important, but it isn't the most important thing.

"We have to give further opportunities to the players who didn't perform well in the first ​half against Morocco. No one in our team played at ⁠their best. But I don't think the opening matches will determine the final outcome of ​the World Cup."

Asked whether supporters should worry about Brazil ‌lacking a clear tactical identity under him, Ancelotti ​said flexibility was the point.

"I don't want a single identity," he said. "I want my team to have multiple identities."

(Reporting by Fernando KallasEditing by Christian Radnedge)

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