This Thursday, coach Carlo Ancelotti held the Brazilian team’s penultimate training session before their debut in the World Cup, which will be against the Moroccan team. During the activity, the coach maintained the formation with eight remaining players from the last World Cup, giving priority to tactical adjustments, including game variations and improving set pieces. This decision to repeat the base of an experienced team demonstrates a search for stability and integration, characteristics valued by the Italian commander in decisive moments. The simulated starting lineup included Danilo and Alex Sandro on the flanks, in addition to Matheus Cunha and Lucas Paquetá in the offensive sector, with strategic movements.
Then, the group carried out exercises focused on dead ball situations, both in attack and defense, away from the eyes of the press. Taking advantage of the presence of a greater number of athletes than ideal for a full game, Ancelotti promoted the rotation of some names, such as Douglas Santos replacing Alex Sandro on the left wing and Igor Thiago replacing Matheus Cunha in command of the attack.
Despite the various observations, the signs point to the Brazilian team starting the competition with a well-defined team. The expected formation includes Alisson in goal, Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães and Alex Sandro in the defensive line, Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães in midfield, and an attack made up of Lucas Paquetá, Matheus Cunha, Vini Júnior and Raphinha.
The technical team was very happy with the way the midfield was positioned and with the excellent harmony shown by Paquetá and Bruno Guimarães during the offensive plays against Egypt. With Wesley’s unavailability, Raphinha maintains his versatility on the field, concentrating his attacking actions more intensely on the right side.
When the team does not have possession of the ball, Brazil’s tactical structure aligns with 4-4-2, a scheme already publicly detailed by Ancelotti. In this configuration, Matheus Cunha takes on the role of restoring the left side of the field, while Lucas Paquetá plays on the right, thus freeing Vini Júnior and Raphinha to explore the attack with more freedom.
Brazil’s debut match will be next Saturday, against the Morocco team, at 7pm (Brasília time), at the stadium located in New York and New Jersey, opening the Group C clashes. In the same group, Haiti and Scotland will face each other equally on Saturday, two hours later, at 9pm, in Boston.
