New Delhi: Being welcomed by two World Cup-winning coaches is a luxury few coaches get in football on their formal introductory event, but it also shows what Brazil expect from Carlo Ancelotti, the first foreigner to coach the five-time champions in a century.
Scolari received a national team jacket from Carlos Alberto Parreira and Luiz Felipe Scolari, coach of their last two title-winning teams in 1994 and 2002, respectively.
But the vastly-experienced Ancelotti wouldn’t be the one to miss that significance underneath the warmth of such an introduction.
On a one-year contract till the end of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Italian know thay he needs to deliver instant results tp convince a demanding nation in the midst of a fumbling qualifying campaign.
He began by bringing back midfielder Casemiro after over a year’s absence for next week’s World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay next week while not considering Neymar due to his suspect fitness after recovering from a muscular injury.
“The national team needs these players, who have charisma, personality, talent. In modern soccer, you have to also have posture, compromise, sacrifice. And Casemiro does have that, as many of those in the squad do. That is key to prepare for the World Cup,” Ancelotti said of the 33-year-old who played under him at Real Madrid.
“Unfortunately, we have a lot of players who suffered injuries and cannot be in the national team, like Neymar. Brazil has many talented players, and in Neymar’s specific case we are counting on him.
“He came back to Brazil to play and prepare for the World Cup. I spoke to him this morning to explain that to him, and he is totally in agreement,” he added.
Expectations
The extent of expectation could be gauged from the presence of 200 media personnel in Ancelotti’s first press conference. “Brazilian society wants me to deliver a first World Cup title after 24 years, I know. What a tall order,” the 65-year-old said.
For that to happen he would need Vinicius to be at his best after flattering only to deceive for the national team so far.
“I am totally convinced that Vinicius will show his best version in the national team,” Ancelotti said, who would draw from all that he knows about the winger from their time at Real.
Brazil banks on his club coaching record of five Champions League titles and league titles in Italy, Spain, France, England and Germany to bring them the sixth title, for which Ancelotti would look to make players comfortable on the pitch.
“After 40 years I still don’t know what makes teams win. I know I want players in a comfortable position on the pitch,” he said.
The Brazil squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), Hugo Souza (Corinthians)
Defenders: Alex Sandro, Danilo, Leo Ortiz, Wesley (all Flamengo), Alexsandro (Lille), Lucas Beraldo (Paris Saint-Germain), Carlos Augusto (Inter Milan), Vanderson (Monaco)
Midfielders: Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Andrey Santos (Strasbourg), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Ederson (Atalanta), (Gerson) Forwards: Antony (Real Betis), Estevao (Palmeiras), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Carlo Ancelotti signed a one-year contract till the end of the 2026 World Cup, to become the first foreigner full-time Brazil coach in over a century Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
