Soccer-Ancelotti says Brazil must improve after 1-1 World Cup draw


Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - June 13, 2026 Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti at half time REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

EAST ⁠RUTHERFORD, June 13 (Reuters) - Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti says ⁠his team must improve after being held to ‌a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their World Cup Group C opener on Saturday, acknowledging an unbalanced and nervous first-half performance.

Vinicius Jr's ​curled strike cancelled out Ismael Saibari's ⁠opener at East Rutherford, ⁠New Jersey, leaving both teams with one point from their ⁠first ‌match of the tournament.

Scotland play Haiti in the other group game later.

• "We did not ⁠play well: a few challenges, a very imbalanced ​team, we ‌lost several balls and I think we have to ⁠do better ​in that sense," Ancelotti said.

• Morocco took the lead in the 21st minute when Saibari finished a swift counter-attack, ⁠converting Brahim Diaz's through ball.

• Vinicius ​equalised in the 32nd minute, cutting in from the left and curling a right-footed shot into the top corner.

• ⁠Ancelotti said Brazil improved after halftime following several substitutions, but could not break down Morocco's low block.

• "I am not disappointed by this result and I'm not ​satisfied either," he said, adding that ⁠Brazil's starting lineup would not remain unchanged throughout the tournament.

• "You ​don't win a World Cup ‌based on your first match," ​he said, with Brazil next facing Haiti on Friday.

(Reporting by Ossian Shine, Editing by Ken Ferris)

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