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Carlo Ancelotti’s repeated message calling for hard work and commitment from his Brazilian team bore fruit today when they defeated South Korea 5-0.
Ancelotti has not had it easy at the beginning of his tenure in Brazil, winning two of four games and struggling to establish a formation.
But they looked a much more cohesive unit in Seoul, with Willian Estevao and Rodrygo scoring twice to add to a goal from Vinicius Jr as the hosts were crushed.
“I am very satisfied with the team’s performance,” Ancelotti said. “Obviously if you have a strong base, with a solid defense, individual quality appears in attack.
“Rodrygo played a very good game, Estêvão too. In attack the team has a lot of variety, many offensive solutions and today we took advantage of the individual quality of these players.
“It was a complete team performance. I think we played very well with and without the ball. The team’s commitment was very good. When the team is committed to the game then the quality comes out and today it went very well.”
The first goal was key to Brazil’s victory: Ancelotti
Estevao, 18, opened the scoring at the end of a sensational move that started deep in Brazil’s own half and ended with him finishing off a fine pass from Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes.
“The key to the match was the first goal, because Korea began to try to defend with a central block, putting pressure on our defense,” added the Italian Ancelotti. “Estêvão’s first goal opened Korea’s defense a little and then it was easier for us to control the game in attack.
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve been talking about collective commitment. This is a platform and then when the team has this platform, we have a good chance of doing things very well.”
They fight together with South Korea
Real Madrid winger Rodrygo cut inside to make noise a second before the break, and Estevao then took the ball from a defender to make it 3-0.
Brazil’s high pressing also allowed them to recover the ball for a fourth goal, Vinicius Jr finishing past Rodrygo for a mere second.
South Korea captain Son Heung-min played just over an hour before being replaced, but his team was well behind and only managed one shot on goal.
Vini Jr then sprang into action, running in from the halfway line to slot home.
Brazil remains in the Far East for its next match, a friendly against Japan at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium on Tuesday.
