Gust of Its Previous Glory: Ancelotti's Brazil Off to Rocky Start
Ancelotti's tenure in Brazil initiates under somber circumstances
His mission: to restore the shine to Brazil, the record World Cup winners. But Carlo Ancelotti, the new national coach, got a taste of the daunting task ahead in his debut as Brazil gave a goalless draw to Ecuador. The result brought a blunt critique from the Spanish press.
In what appeared to be Ancelotti's reality check, Brazil, in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, faced a well-organized Ecuadorian team in Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha in Guayaquil. The Brazilian team, loaded with talent and expectations, found it challenging to create clear-cut chances, their gleaming past only casting a shadow over their present. "Marca" branded Ancelotti's reality check as the match unfolded: "This Brazil is only a shadow of its former self."
Undeterred and optimistic, Ancelotti viewed the game as a challenge for his three strikers, expressing satisfaction with the result and promising more offensive flair in the upcoming matches. "We will have more opportunities to control the game, more movement and intensity," he said confidently. "This was a good draw. We're going home satisfied, with confidence for the next game."
The goalless draw saw Brazil remain in fourth place with 22 points from 15 games, a spot that guarantees them a chance for the tournament to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico in 2026. seventh-placed team will face a playoff. The next match for Brazil will be against Paraguay.
Upon closer inspection, we noticed that star player Neymar, still healing from an injury, missed the game. However, Ancelotti emphasized that he would depend on the 33-year-old, who hasn't played for the Seleção since October 2023 due to injury, in the upcoming games. In his place, young talents like the 18-year-old Estevão earned their chance and were even in the starting lineup for the national team for the first time, while veterans like Casemiro returned to the team.
Of Argie Scuffles and Talent Tests
Lately, beneath the struggling record World Cup winner, a lot of changes have taken place: following the debacle in the last World Cup qualifier against arch-rivals Argentina in March and the subsequent departure of Dorival Júnior, Ancelotti stepped in as the new coach. "Of course, he hasn't had time to show his work, his game plan yet, as we only had two or three days of training," said Vinicius Jr after the final whistle. "Marca" had similar sentiments: "This Brazil is not yet Ancelotti's Brazil, but he has a lot of work ahead if he wants the world to fear the Verdeamarela again and consider them candidates for winning the 2026 World Cup." In Guayaquil, Brazil found themselves grappling with finding constructive ways out of their own half and creating real danger, but they lacked inspiration and verve.
Defense, But Missing the Offense
While the defense held strong, the team found it challenging to unlock the Ecuadorian defense, resulting in a lackluster performance. This was underlined by the missed opportunities from players like Richarlison and the powerful shot from Casemiro that was saved by the opposition keeper.
Future Prospects
Though the start was far from ideal, the future is not entirely bleak. Brazil still has multiple rounds to make the necessary improvements and secure their spot in the tournament. Ancelotti's tactical acumen will play a crucial role in striking the right balance between defense and offense to meet the expectations of the fans and the football world.
The Road Ahead
With Paraguay and several more crucial matches on the horizon, Brazil has ample opportunity to refine their strategy, develop their young talents, and strengthen their roster to compete on the global stage once again. The journey to reclaiming their past glory begins now.
In the midst of their challenging journey to reclaim past glory, Brazil faced a well-organized Ecuadorian team in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, showcasing their talent yet struggling to create clear-cut chances, reminding spectators of the shadows cast by their gleaming past. The match was a sports event filled with expectations, but the football was a harsh reality check for the record World Cup winners under the guidance of coach Carlo Ancelotti. The team's defense held strong, but the offense remained elusive, resulting in a goalless draw and a name branded by "Marca" as a shadow of its former self.
