Soccer-Danilo says Brazil must ditch denial after Morocco wake-up call

Brazil's World Cup campaign has hit a wobble after a 1-1 draw against Morocco, prompting defender Danilo to call for a response against Haiti on Friday.

Brazil defender Danilo said on Wednesday that his ​side must look their World Cup wobble squarely in ​the eye after Morocco gave Carlo Ancelotti's side ‌a ​bruising reminder that famous yellow shirts and old certainties do not win matches by themselves.

Brazil face Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday needing a response after opening Group C with a troubling 1-1 ‌draw against Morocco, rescued by a flash of individual brilliance from Vinicius Jr after Ismael Saibari had put the African side ahead in a first half that left Brazil rattled and pinned back. The result increased scrutiny on Italian Ancelotti, whose decisions to start striker Igor Thiago ‌and right back Roger Ibanez drew criticism, while midfielders Casemiro and Lucas Paqueta struggled to impose themselves before halftime.

Danilo, Fabinho and ‌Matheus Cunha helped Brazil improve after the break, leaving Ancelotti with a familiar tournament puzzle: stick with his starters for cohesion or shake the bottle and see if something fizzes. "Every team has a core group of players," Danilo told a press conference on Wednesday. "There are six, seven or eight players who are first-team regulars ⁠and always ​play. And there are three or ⁠four players who are always rotated depending on the match, the opposition and the strategy.

"That's how football is played these days; strategies always change according to the ⁠opposition." Ancelotti kept his team secret until two hours before kickoff against Morocco, but Danilo said that was part of the modern game, even if not ​every player enjoys the suspense.

"Today we've probably got 80% of the team sorted for Friday's match, and there are three ⁠or four players who are still up in the air," he said. Then came a smile and a little mischief.

"Managers are a bit crazy; sometimes they make choices and ⁠decisions ​for which no one can find a logical explanation," Danilo added. The defender said his own preparation would not change whether he was told he would start days before the match or minutes before kickoff, although others might need more certainty.

Brazil, however, need less ⁠uncertainty on the pitch. Haiti opened with a 1-0 defeat by Scotland, but Danilo said Brazil's focus had to be internal. "We have ⁠to be clear," he said. "The ⁠best way to improve and put things right is to face up to reality and take a clear-eyed look at everything that happened.

"We need to be certain that that first half fell completely ‌short of our capabilities ‌and of what is expected of the Brazilian national team."