SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s best hope for ending 24 years of politics world cup The title drought is not about the clinical strikers, creative midfielders or dribbling wingers of previous tournaments. This time, Brazilians are pinning their hopes on what’s next. 66 year old italiana person sitting on a bench.
Carlo Ancelotti, one of the most successful managers of his generation, retires real madrid He took charge of the Brazilian national team last year, but it is rare for a foreign manager to lead the Selecao. Despite a mixed record of five wins, three losses and two draws, Brazil remains optimistic that it can promote a team seen as having fewer star players than previous teams that have represented Brazil. neymar and Vinicius Junior.
Brazil have won the World Cup five times, more than any other team, but have not lifted the trophy since 2002. This is an eternity for a soccer-obsessed country that has produced some of history’s most decorated players, including Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Ronaldinho. Pele.
Since 2002, they have only made it past the quarter-finals once, in 2014, when they hosted the World Cup, and even that tournament ended in embarrassing disappointment. Semi-finals 7-1 lost Germany eventually becomes the champion.
Brazil’s confidence not helped by arch-rival’s success Argentinathe defending World Cup champions and back-to-back Copa America winners.
“We are allowed to believe,” coach Ancelotti said in a World Cup-themed advertising campaign, acknowledging the lack of self-confidence lurking in Brazil’s soccer psyche.
Neymar returns despite doubts over his fitness
Brazil will begin its World Cup campaign on June 13 against 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. other Group C The opponents are Haiti and Scotland.
In Brazil, getting through the group stage is a given, but anything else is a disaster at the World Cup. Expanded from 32 teams to 48 teams. It is less clear how deep Brazil will be able to play against stronger opponents in the knockout stage.
Ancelotti said on May 18: “We know and trust that this team can compete against the best teams in the world. Can we win the World Cup and reach the final? Yes, we can reach the final. But I don’t know if that will be enough. It’s best for us to get there and win the final.”
One of the biggest questions facing Ancelotti is what to do with Neymar, 34, who was Brazil’s brightest star until his big-money move. saudi league A series of knee injuries meant he barely played there, but he returned to his boyhood club last year. Santos In Brazil, he suffered more injuries.
Despite concerns over Neymar’s fitness, Ancelotti included him in his World Cup squad and called him an “important player” for the squad. Barcelona winger Rafinha also sees Neymar as key to the team, recently describing him as “the man who won his sixth World Cup title”.
If that happens, it will be a more structured approach than the free-flowing style of play that once made Brazil stand out in world football.
Ancelotti, who has a reputation as a master tactician, has transformed Brazil into a team that prefers to sit back and wait for the moment to attack rather than dominate possession. He often opts for a compact 4-4-2 formation, which can quickly turn into an attacking 4-2-4.
Brazil believes in Ancelotti
Despite Ancelotti’s mixed results so far, Brazilians are generally happy with him. Since his appointment, Brazil has recorded two wins, one draw, and one loss in World Cup qualifying, and finished fifth in the South American qualifiers behind Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, and Uruguay.
In recent friendlies, Brazil defeated Croatia (Brazil was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup on penalties in the quarterfinals) but lost to 2022 runners-up France.
Former Brazil left-back Filipe Luis, who recently began his coaching career, called Ancelotti the “best thing to happen” to his national team in April.
“I’m not sure we can win anything,” he said. “But we needed a big man with enough support to make a decision. Someone that people respect, who knows that Brazil has been lost for many years without winning the World Cup.”
Ancelotti took over as manager after a tumultuous period for Brazil.
The team struggled, losing twice to Argentina in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, and lost to Uruguay in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Copa America. Three coaches came and left. Interim coaches Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz, as well as full-time coach Dorival Junior, were both sacked following poor performance and criticism from fans.
Meanwhile, Brazil pursued ancelottiHis second stint at Real Madrid seemed to be coming to an end, even though the team won both the Champions League and the Spanish League in 2024.
The Brazilian Football Federation is convinced it has made the right choice and has already extended Ancelotti’s contract until the 2030 World Cup.
“We have a beast that takes care of our national team, a guy that everyone respects,” Lewis said. “This World Cup is for us to develop that even further.”
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