SEOUL.- The coach of Brazilthe Italian Carlo Ancelotticonsidered this Thursday that the friendlies against South Korea and Japan They are “an opportunity to improve” for the 2026 World Cup.
Brazil, qualified for the tournament, had an irregular qualifying round, which closed in September with a victory against Chile (3-0) and a defeat against Bolivia (1-0).
“(Asia) is a school of soccer that has progressed a lot. We like to play these two games, which are going to be difficult (…). It is important, because it could happen that in the World Cup we have to face them,” Ancelotti said at a press conference in Seoul, where the Canarinha will play South Korea on Friday.
Next Tuesday, in Tokyo, the South American giant will face Japan.
“All of us think about an objective that has to be clear: win the World Cup. I don’t want players who go to the Cup to be the best in the tournament, they have to go to win,” commented Ancelotti in reference to the formation of the squad for next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In this double date of friendlies, the former Real Madrid coach will have quality returnees, such as Rodrygo or Éder Militão, whom he coached during his time as Merengue coach.
“The Brazilian team has a very broad base (…) and I am convinced that we are going to prepare a very positive environment,” he said.
The Italian celebrated the return of Militão after serious knee injuries. The center back played his last games with the green and yellow jersey in June 2024.
“He returned” and “he is showing his best version at Real Madrid,” said the strategist. “He is a very important player, although there is very high competition in the position against him.”
Variants on the bow
Ancelotti confirmed his starters in goal in the face of Alisson’s loss due to injury: Bento will guard the goal against South Korea and Hugo Souza, in his international debut, will do so against Japan.
In charge of wearing the captain’s ribbon in the absence of Marquinhos, midfielder Casemiro pointed out that for Brazil there will be matches against “high-level” rivals to gain “harmony” and “connection” as a team.
