Ancelotti shows solidarity with Venezuela before Japan match

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti opened his pre-match press conference with a message of solidarity for Venezuela, which was hit by two earthquakes that have left over 1,400 dead and at least 50,000 missing. Source: Infobae / EFE

Solidarity message

"Todos nosotros queremos mostrar nuestra solidaridad al pueblo venezolano que está pasando un periodo difícil, muy complicado", Ancelotti said. Source: Milenio Venezuela was struck by two quakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 last Wednesday. Source: Infobae The official death toll is 1,450, according to Milenio, while Excelsior reports "more than a thousand".

Match preparations

Ancelotti then turned to Brazil's round-of-16 clash against Japan at Houston's NRG Stadium. He stressed the need for "mente, corazón e ideas claras" and warned against overconfidence, recalling Japan's friendly win over Brazil last year. Source: Excelsior "Preparamos este partido como lo que es: un partido importante en un torneo importante", he said. Source: Excelsior

• Brazil are focused and motivated after two good games. Source: Milenio
• Ancelotti refused to reveal his lineup, joking that non-starters will sleep better than he will. Source: Milenio