Zlatan Ibrahimović on Brazil qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after defeating Japan:
🗣️ “Everyone buried Brazil too early. Everyone questioned them, doubted them and said the magic was gone. But when the pressure reached its highest point, Brazil reminded the world why five stars are stitched onto that shirt.”
“Japan were magnificent. They fought with courage, discipline and unbelievable belief. They pushed Brazil to the absolute limit, but football is ruthless. One moment of hesitation, one decisive attack, and Brazil showed the difference between dreaming of history and creating it.”
“People will say Brazil struggled. I say champions are supposed to suffer. If winning was easy, every nation would have five World Cups. Great teams don't always dominate they survive, they fight and they finish the job.”
“Gabriel Martinelli didn't just score a goal he carried the hopes of an entire nation on his shoulders. That's the responsibility of wearing the Brazil shirt, and he embraced it when millions were watching.”
“To Japan, hold your heads high because you've earned the respect of the football world. But tonight belongs to Brazil. The giants have survived, the samba continues, and the rest of this World Cup has just been put on notice.”
Brazil are quietly becoming one of the most interesting teams at this World Cup.
The results tell one story: 1-1 vs Morocco, 3-0 vs Haiti, 3-0 vs Scotland.
The football tells a deeper one. Carlo Ancelotti isn't trying to recreate the Brazil of old. He's building a more functional, tactically mature side that looks increasingly comfortable in tournament football.
A few observations:
1. Vinicius Jr is finally being used properly
For years Brazil tried to turn Vini into Neymar. Ancelotti is doing the opposite.
Vini isn't being asked to be the chief creator. He's being asked to be the chief destroyer.
The starting position is wider. The touches are simpler. The decisions are quicker. The objective is clear: isolate defenders and attack space.
The result? He looks far more dangerous.
Brazil are creating structures around Vini rather than forcing him to become the structure.
2. Matheus Cunha makes the attack work
The biggest tactical decision may be Cunha as the No.9. He isn't playing as a traditional penalty-box striker.
-He drops.
-He combines.
-He presses.
-He vacates central spaces.
Those movements create the channels Vini and Rayan attack. Brazil's front line feels less static than it would with a pure poacher. Cunha is becoming the glue that holds the attack together.
3. Bruno Guimarães is the regista
This may be the most important development. Bruno G isn't just a midfielder anymore. He's the quarterback. Everything flows through him.
When Brazil build from deep, he dictates tempo.
When they need control, he slows games down.
When they need penetration, he breaks lines with vertical passes.
The old Brazil often relied on moments. This Brazil increasingly relies on structure. Bruno is the conductor of that structure.
4. Is Raphinha's injury a blessing in disguise?
Harsh question. But tactically, maybe.
Raphinha is an excellent player. However, Rayan offers something Brazil have lacked.
Unpredictability.
-He attacks defenders aggressively.
-He makes runs without the ball.
-He stretches defensive lines vertically.
Most importantly, he complements Vini rather than mirroring him. Instead of two creators wanting touches, Brazil now have two direct runners attacking different spaces.
The balance looks cleaner. Raphinha will still have a role when fit, but Rayan has made himself impossible to ignore.
5. Where do Neymar and Endrick fit?
This is where it gets fascinating. Neymar should not return as the centrepiece. That version of Brazil is over.
Instead, he should become the advanced creator operating between the lines, receiving after Bruno has progressed the ball.
-Less responsibility.
-More efficiency.
Think of him as the final-pass specialist rather than the entire attacking system.
As for Endrick, I see him eventually competing with Cunha rather than replacing Vini or Rayan. Against deep blocks, Endrick's penalty-box instincts could be invaluable.
Against stronger opponents, Cunha's mobility and link play may still be preferred.
The real challenge for Ancelotti will be integrating Endrick without losing the collective balance Brazil currently have.
Final thought:
Three games in, Brazil don't look spectacular.
They look something more dangerous.
-Organised.
-Balanced.
-Flexible.
And if Ancelotti can successfully reintegrate Neymar, Raphinha and Endrick without disrupting the chemistry already forming, Brazil may have the highest tactical ceiling left in this tournament.
#WorldCup2026 #Brazil #Selecao #Ancelotti #ViniciusJr #BrunoGuimaraes #Neymar #Endrick #Rayan #Football #Tactics
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vamos resumir pra quem ainda não entendeu o que está acontecendo:
> o neymar voltou para o brasil visando uma vaga na seleção brasileira
> achou que ia sobrar jogando aqui
> não sobrou e passou a maior parte do tempo no dm
> não vai ser convocado pra copa
> não está nem aí pro santos
> faz questão de escolher jogos para jogar
> sua volta ao peixe foi um fracasso muito abaixo do que era esperado
> desistiu de convencer o ancelotti
> vai embora para os EUA viver perto do messi e largar de vez o futebol.
fim.
Conheci pessoalmente cada profissional que trabalhou no projeto DesimpaiN, todos movidos pela fé em Deus, e todos com extrema disciplina
Entendo que uma final os ânimos mexem, até porque valia TUDO!
Mas acredito que saber perder também faz parte.
A história do G3X nesse split foi linda, tenho muito respeito pelo Gau, nos conhecemos tem mais de 10 anos, e a torcida sabe que estive de aliada o split inteiro
Se até contra o time do meu namorado saiu farpa de todos os lados, com certeza também sairia contra qualquer outro
Faz parte do jogo, e jogo é jogo
Eu lembro que fiquei com rancinho do G3X por 3 dias quando ganharam da gente kkkk reclamei de tudo também, faz parte!
Espero que todos possamos ser maduros e seguir em frente de forma amigável, temos um mundial pra representar o Brasil, topo marcar de comer uma pizza juntos, não tem pra que ficar um apontando o dedo pro outro 🙏🏽
Boa noite a todos, que Deus abençoe!
Obrigado Deus, o Senhor é maravilhoso, a minha primeira Copa Do Mundo com a maior seleção do mundo, só tenho que agradecer a Deus por esse momento, agora é representar a NOSSA NAÇÃO, VAMOS COM TUDO JUNTOS SEMPRE! @CBF_Futebol 🇧🇷