Carlo Ancelotti, the decorated Italian tactician, faces the immense challenge of ending Brazil’s two-decade World Cup drought, a period that now matches their longest stretch without the coveted trophy (1970-1994). Appointed last May with the explicit goal of securing a sixth World Cup, the 66-year-old brings a glittering resume to the Seleção, including five Champions League titles and league triumphs across England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

With 47 years at the pinnacle of football – 16 as a player and 31 as a head coach – Ancelotti is set to extend his commitment to Brazil until the 2030 World Cup, by which point he will be 70. Despite the weight of expectation on the world’s sixth-ranked team, Ancelotti maintains a clear perspective on his role.

The upcoming World Cup squad announcement on 18 May looms large, with key decisions to be made, particularly concerning two of Brazil’s most prominent forwards: Vinícius Júnior and Neymar.

Vinícius Júnior’s pivotal role

Ancelotti has been instrumental in the development of Vinícius Júnior at club level, and he aims to replicate that success with the national team. The 25-year-old has scored eight goals in 47 international games for Brazil, and Ancelotti is keen to alleviate the pressure on him.

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“Look, the responsibility he carries for Brazil is huge, especially recently. This responsibility can be a burden for him,” Ancelotti explained in an interview with The Guardian in Rio de Janeiro. “Our job in the national team is to take some of that weight off his shoulders so he can play with joy, energy and all the qualities he possesses. I see Vinícius as I saw him at Real Madrid: a spectacular player and a spectacular person who can win a match on his own. He’ll be very important for Brazil at the World Cup. But being the No 1? The star player? We don’t need a No 1. We can’t focus everything on just one player. We must think as a team. That’s the only way to win the World Cup.”

Neymar’s conditional call-up

The potential inclusion of veteran forward Neymar, 34, has been a significant point of public debate. He has not featured for the Seleção since October 2023 and has netted 79 goals for his country. A Datafolha institute survey revealed that 53% of Brazilians desire Neymar’s presence at the World Cup, while 34% were against it, and 13% remained undecided.

Ancelotti’s stance is unequivocal: “Neymar’s call-up depends only on him. It depends on what the player shows on the pitch. That’s a very clear criteria and that is not only for Neymar. With most players you need to assess talent and physical condition. With Neymar we only need to assess his physical condition because his talent is beyond question. It depends on him, not on me.”

Brazil’s preparations have also been hampered by injuries to key players like Éder Militão and Rodrygo, with Estêvão also a serious doubt. Meanwhile, 41-year-old Thiago Silva, who recently won the Portuguese league with Porto, hopes to play in his fifth World Cup. Ancelotti himself will experience his fourth World Cup, having played for Italy in 1986 and 1990, and served as an assistant to Arrigo Sacchi when Italy lost the 1994 final to Brazil on penalties.

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Brazil will face Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland in their World Cup group as Ancelotti, with a current record of five wins, two draws, and three defeats in 10 games, endeavors to bring the trophy back to South America.

Sources: www.theguardian.com

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