The first final. That’s how Carlo Ancelotti describes the match in Houston against Japan. A tricky round of 16, considering the opponent has already beaten the Seleção, even if it was just a friendly.
A 3-2 result in October showed the Selecao that the Japanese are not to be underestimated.
"We’ll need a very strong mentality," Carlo Ancelotti began in the press conference, "a lot of heart and clear ideas. We have to be ready for anything that can happen in a knockout match, because in these games, anything really can happen.
"I believe the team is ready, motivated, and confident. The last two matches went well, and we’ll be prepared for any situation."
A do-or-die match that could weigh on the players mentally, even though the Brazil coach tries to downplay the stakes: "In the end, it’s still a football match, even if it’s part of an extraordinary event like the World Cup.
"You have to know how to handle the pressure by staying focused on what needs to be done on the pitch. We’ll have to take care of every aspect, both defensively and offensively, playing as a team.
"We’re facing a strong, organised, and quality opponent, so having clear ideas will be crucial.
The experience of the Brazilians is certainly greater than that of the Japanese players, a strength for Brazil that Ancelotti hopes will make a difference in the match: "It’s a very important factor. Brazil has many very experienced players who know exactly how to prepare for and play in this kind of match. That’s why I’m very confident."
Neymar saga
And of course, there was the inevitable question about the saga of this World Cup: the progress and possible presence of Neymar during the match.
"He’s improving a lot," Ancelotti commented, "and in the last week he’s made great progress. It’s a shame he couldn’t train consistently from the start of the camp, but now he’s able to work for longer periods and is in good condition. Whether he plays will depend on the context and how the match unfolds."