Match Overview
In a recent friendly match against Tunisia that ended in a 1-1 draw, Chelsea winger Estêvão played a notable role, demonstrating both his skills and team spirit. The 18-year-old had successfully scored a penalty just before halftime, bringing Brazil back into the game on a night filled with anticipation in Lille, France.
Penalty Decisions
However, when Brazil was awarded a second penalty in the 77th minute, it was not Estêvão who was selected to take the shot but his teammate, Lucas Paquetá. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti opted to relieve Estêvão of the responsibility for this attempt, hoping to alleviate some pressure from the young player. Instead, he entrusted the spot-kick to West Ham United’s Paquetá, who unfortunately sent the ball sailing over the crossbar.
Post-Match Reflections
Post-match, Estêvão reflected on the decision, admitting his desire to take the penalty but emphasizing his support for Paquetá, stating, “It was an order that came. I really wanted to take the spot-kick but the order came in. I supported my teammate so he could score the goal. Unfortunately, he missed… we need to train and improve because in a World Cup, we have to take advantage of these opportunities.”
Coaching Insights
Ancelotti later clarified his reasoning behind the change, revealing that he wanted to ease the burden on Estêvão, who has been gaining prominence since joining Chelsea from Palmeiras for a fee of £29 million ($38.6 million) this past summer. “For the second penalty, I changed penalty taker because I wanted to take some of the pressure off Estêvão, so I put Paquetá in, who usually takes them very well,” Ancelotti explained.
Paquetá’s Response
Following the missed opportunity, Paquetá expressed his disappointment, acknowledging the pressure of the situation that contributed to his miss, stating, “I apologise for the missed penalty. I’m sad. We probably would have won… my anxiety made me make a decision before that final touch, which took me away from taking the penalty as I usually do.” He committed to learning from the experience, aiming for improvement in future matches.
Looking Ahead
Despite Brazil finishing the year winless, Estêvão remains optimistic. Having netted five goals in 11 appearances for the national team, he stressed that it has been a rewarding year for him personally, reinforcing the significance of his selection for the national squad.
“Being here with the national team means that the work has been done well at the club and at home, so I’m very happy to represent the national team,” he said.
