Brazil’s head coach says Croatia has ‘nothing to fear ahead of quarterfinal clash
Vinícius Jr. fielded probing questions from reporters on the pressure Brazil is feeling like the favourite in Qatar and what some pundits perceived as disrespect towards opponents following the Seleção’s dance moves against South Korea, but he was finally caught off guard in the press conference when a stray cat leapt onto the table in front of him.
Brazil, too, finally began to purr in its round of 16 match against South Korea, dismantling its opponent in a four-goal blitz in the first half to put the remaining teams in the World Cup on notice.
It was a performance that had everything and encapsulated the attacking verve and flair that fans have come to associate with Brazil’s joga bonito over the years.
The team was yet to put on a display like that in Qatar, with Tite’s Brazil known more for its pragmatism than panache, but so impressed was the usually stern head coach with what he had seen, the players even convinced him to join in with Richarlison’s ‘pigeon dance’ celebration after the third goal.
“I try to adapt to the characteristics of the players,” Tite told reporters after the match, according to Reuters. “They are very young and I try to adapt a bit to their language, and part of their language is dancing.”
Brazil’s choreographed dances have been a large part of what has made the national team so loved by football fans around the world, but it drew criticism from some who described it as disrespectful to South Korea.
“Sure, some love to complain when they see other people’s happiness and we Brazilians are a joyful people, so it will always bother,” Vinícius told reporters, per Reuters. “The goal is the most important moment in football. In a World Cup, it is even more important, so it’s a moment of joy not only for us players, but for our entire country.
“We still have many celebrations ready, so we need to keep playing better, winning games and stay joyful in the process. We need to stay calm and focus because there are more people with us than against us.”
Brazil was also boosted by the return of Neymar and Danilo for the match against Korea, with both of them coming through that matched unscathed and looking as sharp as they did in the group stages.
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