October 14, (THEWILL) — October 14, (THEWILL) — Brazil manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has called for improved mental strength from his squad following their unexpected 3-2 defeat to Japan in Tokyo on Tuesday. The loss marked the first time Brazil had ever been beaten by the Asian nation.
The Italian coach identified a defensive mistake by Fabricio Bruno on Japan’s opening goal during the second half as the catalyst for his team’s collapse. Ancelotti said the error caused the players to lose their mental balance and positive mindset. The defeat came just days after Brazil’s emphatic 5-0 victory over South Korea, with the manager fielding a heavily rotated side for the Japan match.
Ancelotti told journalists that individual errors would not determine World Cup squad selection. Instead, he stressed the importance of evaluating how the team responds collectively to setbacks. The coach admitted the side had performed well against South Korea and during the first half in Tokyo, but said the second-half display was very poor.
Brazil will face Senegal and Tunisia in November friendlies, both scheduled for European venues in England and France. Ancelotti described both the current and upcoming international breaks as testing periods for experimentation.
The manager acknowledged his team must find the right balance before next year’s World Cup in North America. He described Tuesday’s defeat as a valuable lesson, emphasising that Brazil needs to learn from mistakes and maintain equilibrium throughout matches during the tournament.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
