Tite recalls the 2022 World Cup loss to Croatia: “I built up huge expectations”
“Why me?”
With that unanswered question, Tite spent a long time grappling with the sense of injustice over Brazil’s quarterfinal exit at the 2022 World Cup.
The former Brazil coach believes his team played better than Croatia and that six and a half years of work deserved at least a semifinal berth. The most painful defeat of his career led him into seclusion—a silence broken only last week, when he gave his first exclusive interview in over three and a half years to *Abre Aspas*, part of *ge*.
Tite says he has found healing. His expression and words are now calm regarding everything surrounding that match, from which he carries a single regret:
“Every criticism directed at me for Neymar not taking the first penalty is correct. I made a mistake. Would that have secured the win? I don’t know. But he should have been the first taker.”
Another consequence of that night is a rare feeling in his long and victorious career: being deceived by the pitch.
“I was watching the game, watching the game… and I rewatched it. Croatia didn’t have any major dangerous chances. I usually say the pitch speaks, the ball speaks. (That day) the game didn’t speak. The game hid,” he recalled, referring to Croatia’s equalizer just four minutes before the end of extra time.
For the first time, Tite delved into the details of the final match among the 81 he managed for Brazil. He spoke about heading to the locker room right after the last penalty was taken, without sharing the pain of defeat with the players. He explained his tactical choices, the penalty takers in the shootout, and the behind-the-scenes reactions in his final conversations with the squad.
Proudly, he also remembered the good moments, especially the 30-match unbeaten run in World Cup qualifiers—records he believes will be hard to surpass and which led every subsequent permanent Brazil coach to seek his advice. Tite spoke with Fernando Diniz, Dorival Júnior, and Carlo Ancelotti.
Not speaking for so long led to a three-hour conversation. Therefore, the interview will be published in two parts. In this first part, the focus is on the national team. On Monday, *ge* will release what Tite revealed about his recent spells at Flamengo and Cruzeiro, his rejections of Corinthians, and his plans for the future as a coach.
*Tite in an interview with Abre Aspas — Photo: Jhony Inácio*
**ge:** You’ve never spoken publicly about the last World Cup. Did that elimination affect you differently than others? Why did it take so long to break your silence?
**Tite:** It affected me differently. I felt it a lot, more than usual. I asked myself, “Why me?” My spirituality dropped, and I couldn’t understand. I kept saying, “It can’t be.” I built up very high personal expectations, because it touched something deep.
