Carlo Ancelotti reveals moment Brazil 'lost the World Cup'
(Courtesy :Â DFL/Bundesliga)
Selecao were knocked out of the competition in the round of 16.
Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil’s coach, has laid blame for the nation’s early World Cup departure on tactical alterations made during the second-half hydration break against Norway.
At this year’s World Cup, FIFA mandated three-minute intervals in the middle of each half for all games, which managers utilised as timeouts to relay in-game tactical advice.
Carlo Ancelotti sheds light on Brazil’s defeat to Norway
Brazil led 0-0 going into the second half of their round-of-16 game against Norway. But they lost 2-1 thanks to two late Erling Haaland goals, marking their earliest World Cup exit loss since 1990.
“I think we lost the World Cup during the hydration break against Norway,” Carlo Ancelotti told ESPN.
“Why? Because, up until then, the team had been in control.”
“That’s where my mistake may have been — thinking the team had lost control of the match when they hadn’t. I made a few changes to the team, and then we had the problem with Erling Haaland’s goal. And then, in a World Cup, when you concede a goal in the 30th minute [of the second half], it’s very difficult to come back from that.”
Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s global football development executive, stated before the tournament’s conclusion that hydration intervals did not affect the flow of play during the World Cup or on match outcomes.
Brazil lost two chances to lead against Norway. Bruno Guimarães’ early penalty was saved, and substitute Endrick wasted a one-on-one opportunity around the hour mark.
Ancelotti did, however, laud Norway. The Norwegians reached their first quarterfinal but fell short of reaching the last four after losing 2-1 in extra time to England.
Why did Brazil lose to Norway in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16?
Carlo Ancelotti says that the changes he made during the hydration break affected their performance in the game.
When does the hydration break happen?
It happens during the 22nd minute of each half.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.