Taffarel defends Bento after failure at Al Nassr and minimizes impact on Ancelotti’s pre-list By Thiago Lemos
3 min read
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Bento’s technical error in the tie between Al Nassr and Al Hilal should not cost him his place in Mundo’s Copa. Cláudio Taffarel, goalkeeping coordinator for the Brazilian team, came to the athlete’s defense this Wednesday (13). The four-time champion used his own career as an example to justify the archer’s continued presence on Carlo Ancelotti’s radar.
Bento scored an own goal in stoppage time of the Saudi classic, delaying Cristiano Ronaldo’s team from winning the title. Mesmo failed, the goalkeeper remains among the six names pre-summoned for Mundial. The definitive list, with 26 players, will be announced next Monday, at Rio de Janeiro.
Taffarel, preparador de goleiros da Seleção Brasileira, sobre a falha de Bento no jogo entre Al-Nassr e Al-Hilal
— LIBERTA DEPRE (@liberta___depre) May 13, 2026
“Se (falha) pesasse assim, acho que eu nunca teria ido para uma Copa. Falhou sim, falei com ele, mas já superou. Goleiro tem que ser assim, foi isso que sempre me… pic.twitter.com/wEXOXiobTF
Taffarel recalls past mistakes to validate Bento’s stance
The experience of those who competed in three Copas from Mundo served as a shield for recent criticism about Bento’s performance in Arábia Saudita. Taffarel was emphatic in declaring that occasional failures are part of the evolution of any professional who works in this position. Ele argued that, if isolated errors were decisive for definitive exclusions, his own victorious history with the yellow jersey would not have existed.
The coordinator highlighted that Bento has maintained important regularity since moving to Saudi football. The Brazilian technical committee constantly monitors all athletes who work abroad. Para preparers, the ability to react after an adverse moment is more valuable than the total absence of failures during a long season.
Análise from the move that prevented Al Nassr’s title party
The move that sparked the debate occurred in the last minute of the direct confrontation between Al Nassr and Al Hilal. Bento’s team was winning 1-0 and was on the verge of securing the national championship trophy. Após a throw-in shot directly into the penalty area, the Brazilian goalkeeper tried to punch the ball, but mistimed the exit. The deflection ended up directing the ball into their own net, sealing the tie and frustrating Jorge Jesus and Cristiano Ronaldo’s plans.
- Bento tried to intercept an aerial ball on a throw-in
- The miscalculation resulted in an own goal in the 49th minute of the second half
- Al Nassr needed the victory to confirm the title in advance
- Críticas in the Saudi press focused on the goalkeeper’s insecurity in the decisive move
Critérios from Ancelotti keeps six names in the fight for three spots
The competition for Brasil’s gloves in Copa of Mundo 2026 remains open in a list of 55 names. Bento shares the attention of the technical committee with established names and new bets in national and European football. Taffarel revealed that he spoke personally with the athlete right after Tuesday’s game to offer technical and psychological support. The technical committee’s focus now turns to Monday, when the final cut will be made official by Carlo Ancelotti.
The names that make up the goalkeeper sector in the current pre-list are:
- Alisson (Liverpool)
- Ederson (Fenerbahçe)
- Hugo Souza (Corinthians)
- John (Nottingham Forest)
- Weverton (Grêmio)
- Bento (Al Nassr)
Overcoming Capacidade defines profile sought by the technical committee
Para Taffarel, the goalkeeper position requires a coolness that Bento demonstrated by admitting his mistake immediately. The coordinator stated that knowing the reason for the failure is the first step to “turning the page”, a characteristic that he considers essential for an Seleção Brasileira holder. The regularity shown by the former Athletico-PR goalkeeper over the last year counts for more points than an isolated play in a poorly executed goal.
The official announcement of the 26 called up will take place on Museu of Amanhã, at 5pm (on Brasília). Bento is still seen as a strong candidate to be among the chosen three who will travel to Mundial. The final evaluation will be screened by Ancelotti, but Taffarel’s public endorsement indicates that the player’s prestige remains intact in the technical department.
