Carlo Ancelotti, the renowned Italian manager, embarks on his first international management role with the monumental task of ending Brazil's two-decade-long World Cup drought. The most successful nation in World Cup history, with five titles, last lifted the trophy in 2002. This prolonged period without success now matches the length of time Brazil went without winning before their 1994 triumph, a situation former defender Marcio Santos described as "way too long for the Brazilian people."
The pressure on Ancelotti is palpable, with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson remarking that his position carries "more pressure than being the president of the country." This immense expectation comes despite a challenging qualification campaign where Brazil finished a lowly fifth, suffering more defeats than any other South American team that qualified. Ancelotti, who left Real Madrid last year, faces an immediate test against Morocco, a team that made history by reaching the semi-finals in the 2022 World Cup.
Adding to the challenges, star forward Neymar is expected to miss the opening fixture against Morocco due to a calf injury sustained shortly after his call-up. This means Ancelotti will need to rely on other attacking talents such as Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha, with teenage sensation Endrick and Brentford's Igor Thiago vying to lead the line. The midfield is set to be anchored by a rejuvenated Casemiro, alongside Newcastle's Bruno Guimarães, providing a strong core.
Ancelotti's strategy is expected to leverage a robust defence, built around the partnership of captain Marquinhos and Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhães. However, concerns remain over the full-back positions, traditionally a strength for Brazil, which now rely on more experienced players like Douglas Santos, Danilo, and Alex Sandro. Finding the right balance in attack while maintaining defensive solidity will be crucial for Ancelotti as he attempts to navigate a potentially tricky group stage.
Brazil's history of consistently winning their World Cup group since 1978 will be a statistic Ancelotti hopes to maintain. However, their poor qualifying form and the strength of their opening opponent mean that even a draw against Morocco would be a significant result. The Italian manager, who has won everything in club football, aims to become only the third manager in history to win both the World Cup and the Champions League, following Marcello Lippi and Vicente del Bosque.