Alisson says doubts over Brazil could help at World Cup

NEW JERSEY: Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker said doubts surrounding the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup may work to its advantage as the five-time champions prepare to begin their campaign in North America.

Speaking to reporters at Brazil's tournament base in New Jersey on Thursday, the Liverpool goalkeeper said Brazil had faced similar skepticism before previous tournaments and still succeeded. He pointed to the country's long wait for another title, with Brazil seeking its first World Cup triumph in 24 years since winning in 2002 in Japan and South Korea.

Alisson suggested that not being regarded as one of the main favourites is not necessarily a disadvantage. Current discussion around likely winners has largely focused on defending champions Argentina, European champions Spain and 2022 runners-up France, with England and Portugal also frequently mentioned.

In comments on the current squad, Alisson said the team is different from earlier Brazil sides and referred to the difficulties players had gone through in the recent period. He also said the team was now focused on its present condition and on producing a positive result in its opening match against Morocco.

Attributing the recent improvement to coach Carlo Ancelotti, Alisson said the environment around the team had changed since the Italian took charge a year ago. Brazil qualified in fifth place in the 10-team South American qualifying group after a turbulent campaign in which two coaches were dismissed before Ancelotti's arrival.

Brazil have, however, won their last three friendly matches, including a 6-2 victory over Panama and a 2-1 win over Egypt last week. They will now open their Group C campaign against Morocco at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, in a meeting between the teams ranked sixth and seventh in the current FIFA standings respectively. Brazil's remaining group matches are against Haiti and Scotland.

Brazil won the last World Cup staged in the United States in 1994, but their more recent record has fallen short of expectations. They have been eliminated in the quarter-finals in four of the last five tournaments, while their 2014 campaign on home soil also included a 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany.

This will be a third World Cup for the 33-year-old Alisson, who played every game for Brazil at Russia 2018 and all but one match in 2022. Brazil lost to Belgium in the quarter-finals in 2018 before being knocked out by Croatia on penalties in Qatar.

Alisson said the team could not afford to dwell on previous disappointments and praised Ancelotti's influence on the squad.

"It is a good thing that there are some doubts about the team, because that has been the case on other occasions in the past", he stated.

"The current team has different characteristics compared to past sides. That last period was very difficult for all the players, for various reasons", he added.

Looking ahead to the opener, Alisson added "The most important thing is how we feel now, and we hope that translates into us getting a good result against Morocco."

On the team's direction under the new coach, he said "On what happened in the past, I think in football you can't afford to spend time wallowing,".

"Since Ancelotti came in, the atmosphere has been transformed. He has such a strong presence and doesn't focus on controversial issues", he added.