Carlo Ancelotti Hails Brazil's Growth After Scotland Victory

Carlo Ancelotti believes Brazil are beginning to hit their stride at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Wednesday's commanding 3-0 victory over Scotland secured top spot in Group C and a place in the knockout stages.

Goals from Matheus Cunha and a Vinicius Junior brace sealed an accomplished performance at Hard Rock Stadium, with the Seleção ending the group phase unbeaten. Although satisfied with the progress his side has made, Ancelotti insisted there is still room for improvement before the knockout rounds begin.

"Now we are playing as a team; that is the objective. We are not perfect; we have things to improve," Ancelotti asserted in his post-match press conference.

"We can be a little quicker when we have control. I'm happy because the team has improved a lot, now we are solid. In the knockout stage, solidity is very important. We have a solid team. Compared to the first game, we have fewer mistakes, more rhythm, more efficiency up front."

Vinicius once again underlined his importance by scoring in his third consecutive World Cup match, matching the achievements of Brazilian greats Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Jairzinho and Romário. Ancelotti was full of admiration for the Real Madrid forward, whom he regards among the finest players in world football.

"It is satisfying because I had no doubt about how he could arrive at this World Cup. For him, it is an honor to play for the national team. He is doing very well, he also scored with a header, which is very rare for him. I'm not the one who is going to discover Vini. For me, Vini is top class. He is one of the best in the world, obviously."

Teenager Rayan also impressed after stepping into the side in place of the injured Raphinha. The youngster contributed to Brazil's opening goal and delivered an energetic display that earned praise from his manager.

"(Rayan) did a complete job defensively and offensively, he played very well. I'm very satisfied with the match he played; being young is an important part of it. He has maturity, he works hard, he has quality. I think, in general, no one knows how high his level can go."

There was another emotional moment as Neymar made his first appearance for Brazil since October 2023 after recovering from serious knee and calf injuries. Ancelotti said the veteran forward had earned his opportunity through his professionalism and commitment.

"(Neymar) had the opportunity to play because he deserved to play; he worked and trained to recover with great professionalism. Because of his qualities, he can help the team in this World Cup.

He played well in the few minutes he had. Neymar does not need motivation to play, no player needs that to play wearing Brazil's shirt, and it is the same with Neymar. He is 34 years old and has the same passion a boy has for playing for Brazil."

Asked how close Brazil are to his ideal team, the Italian refused to set limits.

"I don't set a goal on how far we can go. We can go as far as we play. There are always things to improve. Not being happy is already a step forward to improve."

Ancelotti also stressed that winning remains the only measure of success.

"We are working to play the best we can. But the goal is not to play well. We know that playing well is easier to win. But the goal is to win. The manager is only judged if he wins or doesn't win. It doesn't matter if we play well.

If we win the World Cup, we play well. If we don't win the World Cup, we play really bad. I understand this really well. But I am satisfied because the team is improving. I like to talk about the team, and not the individuality."

The moment when Ancelotti sang the national song before kickoff was very moving for the Brazilian supporters. "I am Italian, but I am learning the Brazilian anthem," he said when asked about it. "As I sang, I followed the words on the screen. I like singing the anthem, and in this period I feel honoured to be part of this country."

Brazil will now turn their attention to the Round of 32, where they will face the runners-up from Group F. Whether the opponents are the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden, Ancelotti expects another demanding challenge.

"Yes, without a doubt. The three opponents are opponents with a lot of quality, different. Obviously, the Netherlands are more experienced than Japan. But Japan is also good. Above all, before the World Cup, they had very good results in the friendly matches. And Sweden also has a lot of potential. We'll see what happens tomorrow."