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Confidence is Power

Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco in 2026 had not been the exhilarating, free-flowing football of old. Changes were made by Coach Ancelotti for game two against Haiti, with Cunha taking on a false No. 9 role. 

 

Cunha is a player who fits that stereotypical vision of what a Brazilian player should be. It’s like watching a kid in the street playing with freedom of expression, free-flowing balance, skill, and deadly speed. 

 

After scoring the first goal in this game from a fortunate clearance that deflected off his leg and into the goal, his confidence was up, and there was no better way to make use of that confidence than by being clinical in what you do. 

 

Here is a first-person view of goal number two for coaching purposes. 

 1:06 into the video 

 

I hold my ground just inside their half, centrally, and wait for us to win the ball back. Their right midfielder has received the ball and is cutting in from our left wing inside our half. Paquetá is chasing him and nicks the ball, giving a short pass to Vinícius in front of him, who is just inside their half. 

 

We’re on for a fast break. I turn and sprint forward. They have only two defenders back. Vinícius dribbles on an angle towards the centre of the two defenders, pulling them together. It’s leaving a hole behind them to the left. 

 

OK, sprint fast between the two defenders on an angle to the left. Vinícius slides the ball perfectly behind the last defender into that left channel I’m running into. I’ll get there before the right-back gets back, easily. 

 

One touch forward with my left foot takes the ball closer into the box. It’s on the left-side angle to the goal, but still shootable if I do it quickly. 

 

A quick glance up and I see the keeper has left a gap at the near post. OK, just smash it as hard as possible at that near post. Visualise that area of the net. Plant my right foot next to the ball, slightly ahead of it as it rolls, and my left-foot drive with lace hard through the ball. 

 

The connection feels good. The ball rockets away. I’m falling off balance, but that’s OK; it’s after the strike. The ball flies past the goalkeeper and into the roof of the near-post netting. 

 

Goaaaaal! 

 

What a strike by Cunha, and quite typical of his type of goal: zeroed-in focus and execution. The confidence to unleash a powerful run and shot to score was evident throughout the move. 

 

Confidence is a powerful emotion. It’s not always there, and it can come from seeing yourself perform well, practicing to the point where technique becomes subconscious, receiving praise from a motivating coach, or benefiting from a good pass or touch. 

 

Making use of that confidence when you are in the zone is exactly what Cunha did here. 

 

One2Pro: 

The use of video with a physical Coach review is fantastic for honing skills and performance. In our One2Pro online coaching app, "Techniques of the Stars" are broken down step-by-step for players to follow and practice, to then upload to our Coach to review and provide feedback. 

Download and subscribe to work with your One2Pro coach on all 92 skills. 

Be the One!  

Aaron Tighe 

Founder, One2Pro 

 

*What It Takes. Available on major retailers in hardcopy, eBook and audio. 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

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