Ancelotti hails Vinicius as 'one of the best' after Brazil progress at World Cup

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vinicius[/a] scored twice in the first half in Miami, including a header, to set [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a] on their way to a victory which [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brazil-I9l9aqLq/scotland-fZRU25WH/?mid=EgVZxtj1"]allowed them to progress to the last 32 as winners of Group C[/a].[/p][p]"I had no doubts about how he would be coming into this World Cup," said Ancelotti of the 25-year-old, who has four goals in three games at this year's tournament.[/p][p][b]"For him, it is an honour to play for the national team. He is playing well and he even scored a header, which is very rare for him.[/b][/p][p][b]"I knew all about what Vini could do. He is one of the best players in the world," [/b]added Ancelotti, who managed the forward for four years at Real Madrid.[/p][embed guid="9d5f17f3-5e7a-4ffe-8cf7-de02658ec844" url="https://x.com/BBCMOTD/status/2069920567940059295?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Vinicius scored in Brazil's opening 1-1 draw with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] and then also netted in the 3-0 defeat of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/haiti/nk4v10Z1/"]Haiti[/a].[/p][p]He is level with France's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Kylian Mbappe[/a] and Norway's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/haaland-erling/UmV9iQmE/"]Erling Haaland[/a] in the golden boot race, with that trio all one behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Lionel Messi[/a].[/p][p]He is the first Brazilian to score in all three group matches at a World Cup since Ronaldo and Rivaldo both achieved the feat in 2002.[/p][p]The only other Brazilian players to find the net in all three group games are Jairzinho, in 1970, and Romario in 1994 - that is illustrious company to keep, and Brazil went on to lift the trophy every time one of their players did that in the past.[/p][p][b]"I always say I am not that bothered about numbers. I am not used to scoring so many goals, but the coach has moved me into a position to which I have adapted well, and now I am scoring and helping the team,"[/b] Vinicius told Brazilian broadcaster [i]CazeTV[/i].[/p][p]Vinicius, who came second in the Ballon d'Or in 2024, netted 22 goals in 53 games in all competitions for Real last season.[/p][p][b]"Hopefully I can keep going to the final. I am very happy with the work being done by the team. If everyone is playing well, the ball will arrive in attacking areas and we will have chances to score goals," [/b]he added.[/p][embed guid="76f44059-1ce6-46e4-8ca0-60355607b4ea" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2069953290608197710?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][h2]'The passion of a kid'[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/matheus-cunha/bq5QzRdb/"]Matheus Cunha[/a] got Brazil's other goal against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/scotland/fZRU25WH/"]Scotland[/a], before the Manchester United player was replaced by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neymar/jNOPwl3h/"]Neymar[/a] for his first appearance for his country since October 2023.[/p][p]"He deserved to come on. He has worked hard and trained hard to recover fitness. He has done it very professionally," Ancelotti said of Brazil's all-time top scorer.[/p][p]"He has the quality to help the team at this World Cup and he played well in the few minutes he was on.[/p][p][b]"He needs no motivation to play for Brazil, none of the players do. He is 34, but he has the same passion for playing football as a kid."[/b][/p][embed guid="24cc9a4e-aac7-4449-954c-be71698da4b9" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2069931831357575597" social-type="twitter" /][p]Brazil now go to Houston for a last-32 tie next Monday against the runners-up in Group F - either the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/OQyqbHWB/"]Sweden[/a].[/p][p][b]"Compared to the first game, we are making fewer errors, playing with more rhythm, and we are more clinical up front," [/b]added Ancelotti.[/p][p]"In the two games since Morocco, we have left a good impression. The objective was to finish first, and now we just need to keep working and getting better for the next game.[/p][p][b]"Now we are really playing as a team, and that was of the aim. We are not perfect, we have things to improve on.[/b][/p][p][b]"But I am very happy because we have got better already and we are solid now. It's really important to be solid in the knockout rounds."[/b][/p][infobox id="223b89ff-ddb8-4772-8cfb-8f89aea85267" /]