Carlo Ancelotti outlines the starting Brazilian squad with Igor Thiago and Lucas Paquetá for a friendly match

Seleção Brasileira carried out its second training session on North American soil as part of the preparation for the next commitments of the season. Coach Carlo Ancelotti took advantage of the activity carried out in Columbia Park Training, in Nova Jersey, to test a new structural formation in the team. Sem count on Neymar, the European coach made five changes in relation to the squad’s last appointment. The field work served to evaluate the fit of athletes looking for space among the starters.

Training at Morristown had a different dynamic due to local organizational guidelines. Cerca of 200 fans, including Brazilian immigrants and residents of the region, followed the proceedings in the stands. Essa opening is part of a community integration protocol established for the training period in the country. Carlo Ancelotti used the pitch to interrupt plays and guide defensive and offensive positioning. The athletes showed intensity in the fight for open places on the main team.

Striker Igor Thiago gained an opportunity in the team considered main during tactical training. The player competes for the reference position in the offensive sector with Matheus Cunha, who started the previous game. The Brentford athlete is characterized by his physical presence in the opponent’s penalty area. The technical committee is looking for central alternatives to break through the defensive blocks of teams that play backwards.

Defesa gains new owners after European decision

The defensive sector presented the largest number of modifications promoted by the technical committee in this activity in Nova Jersey. Defenders Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães resumed central positioning in the line of four defenders. Ambos had missed Seleção Brasileira in the friendly against Panamá because they had played in the Champions League final days before. The return of the duo reestablishes the defensive base that played in most of the qualifiers.

The left side also presented new features during tactical work on a reduced field. Douglas Santos was tested in Alex Sandro’s slot, indicating a rotation programmed by Carlo Ancelotti’s assistants. The change seeks greater consistency in the recomposition of space on the left side.

Detailed modifications to the defensive sector include:

• Marquinhos resumes his place in defense on the right side after a rest period.
• Gabriel Magalhães resumes positioning on the left of the starting defensive area.
• Douglas Santos enters on the left side to evaluate marking consistency.
• Wesley receives instructions to advance along the right corridor with the steering wheels covered.

Lucas Paquetá works in a new tactical role for the right sector

Lucas Paquetá’s entry into midfield changed the dynamic of offensive movement designed by Carlo Ancelotti. The midfielder occupied the right side of the pitch, replacing Luiz Henrique, but with different characteristics of a traditional winger. Lucas Paquetá sought the diagonal towards the center of the field to create numerical superiority in articulating plays. Essa’s movement opened the side aisle for defender Wesley to take down.

The tactical scheme maintained the structural base, without changing the distribution to a trio of fixed attackers. Support through the middle allowed the midfielders to make the transition as a block. Carlo Ancelotti demanded compression of the sectors to avoid the counterattacks suffered in the last friendly. The coach demanded quick passes and play reversals to test the wingers’ speed.

Young Igor Thiago commented on the opportunity he received and the importance of athletes who start on the bench. The center forward highlighted that the group needs options with varied characteristics to face different game contexts. The technical committee positively evaluates the athlete’s performance in finishing training.

Preparação focuses on friendly against Egito before the tournament

Training at Estados Unidos serves as a final adjustment for the friendly match scheduled against the Egito team. The match serves as a thermometer to analyze the group’s behavior under pressure in foreign territory. Carlo Ancelotti must confirm the official lineup only on the eve of the clash, after analyzing the athletes’ physical data. The medical department monitors the wear and tear of players who played in recent European competition finals.

The absence of Neymar means that technical leadership on the field is shared among the more experienced athletes on the squad. Marquinhos and Lucas Paquetá took on the role of guiding younger players through tactical activities. CBF fulfills its agenda of commercial and institutional commitments in the Nova Jersey region while the group finalizes field work. Positioning tests continue in the next session closed to the press.