Sport · India Bureau
Ancelotti hails India's organised display as Brazil cruise to 4-0 victory
Brazil's head coach Carlo Ancelotti praised India's defensive resilience and counter-attacking strategy despite the five-time world champions securing a dominant 4-0 win in a historic football friendly on Saturday. The visitors found their rhythm only after breaking the deadlock, with emerging talent Estevao among the goal scorers.
LSN India ·
Playing in humid conditions with a rejigged lineup, Brazil's elite squad faced an unexpectedly stern test during the opening 27 minutes before finding the breakthrough through young winger Estevao. The goal proved pivotal, with Pedro adding a second before the interval, while Samuel Lino completed the rout with two second-half strikes.
Ancelotti acknowledged India's impressive tactical setup during the post-match press conference. "They defended well, they were organised, and they attempted to play on the counter-attack. I think they played a good match," the Italian tactician said of the hosts, ranked 138th in world football.
The Brazil manager stressed that opening the scoring fundamentally shifted the match dynamics. "We had difficulty to open the score, but once we scored through Estevao, we had more opportunities to control the game better," Ancelotti explained.
Despite the comprehensive scoreline, Ancelotti indicated there remained areas for Brazil to address, even as the visitors maintained a clean sheet against the spirited Indian outfit. The result underscores the gulf between the established powerhouse and the emerging nation, though India's organised resistance provided valuable experience for the home side.