Five challenges Carlo Ancelotti faces as Brazil reign kicks off

SAO PAULO – After a warm welcome to Brazil, Carlo Ancelotti is on a mission to fix a stuttering team and win back fans, starting with the World Cup qualifier against Ecuador on June 5. Here are five issues that the Italian will face.

1. Qualify for the World Cup

“The only goal is to win the 2026 World Cup,” said Ancelotti when he took the job.

First he has to get there.

The South American qualifiers are a two-year, 18-match marathon. Brazil’s campaign has included a first-ever home World Cup qualifying defeat, 1-0 at the Maracana by old enemies Argentina, part of a run of three straight defeats in 2023 that ended the coaching reign of Fernando Diniz.

Their last match was a 4-1 humiliation in Argentina in March that finished off former coach Dorival Jr. Yet the format is forgiving.

The top six in the 10-team group qualify directly for the World Cup. Brazil are fourth, six points clear of Venezuela in seventh with four matches to go.

Ecuador may be second in the group, but are only two points ahead of Brazil, who then host fifth-placed Paraguay.

Qualifying ends in September with a home game against bottom-of-the-table Chile and a visit to struggling Bolivia.

2. Fix the centre-forward problem

Brazil are still churning out dazzling attackers but the production line has stalled on No. 9s. In this century, Romario, Ronaldo and Adriano have all led the attack and banged in the goals.

The nearest player to a classic No. 9 in Ancelotti’s first squad is a player he coached at Everton, Richarlison, now at Tottenham Hotspur.

Yet Ancelotti has won without a central striker before. His 2024 Champions League-winning Real Madrid side was led by two Brazilians – Vinicius Jr, who is in the Brazil squad, and Rodrygo, whom he did not select. Ancelotti also has Raphinha of Barcelona, who was joint-top scorer in this season’s Champions League.

3. Sort out the midfield

A bigger problem might be supplying the attackers, veteran Brazilian football journalist Juca Kfouri said.

With Brazil’s youth academies focusing on defensive midfielders and quick wingers rather than classic creators, the Selecao face a shortage of ideas in midfield.

In Brazil’s last two outings, Dorival tried Bruno Guimaraes, Gerson, Andre and Joelinton in the role. None convinced.

At Real, Ancelotti “had Toni Kroos as a supply line for Vini. Brazil does not have a Toni Kroos”, said sports writer Tim Vickery on his Brazilian Shirt Name podcast.

Ancelotti has recalled Kroos’ former Real midfield partner Casemiro, although the 33-year-old now with Manchester United is primarily a defensive player to add, the coach said, “charisma, personality and talent”.

4. Find fullbacks

The supply of swashbuckling fullbacks, such as Carlos Alberto, Cafu and Roberto Carlos – another hallmark of great Brazil teams – has also dried up.

Ancelotti has recalled Carlos Augusto, part of the Inter Milan team crushed in the Champions League final, and picked Flamengo duo Wesley Franca and Alex Sandro after seeing them play last week in a 1-0 victory over Venezuelan team Deportivo Tachira in the Copa Libertadores.

5. Win back the fans

Ancelotti needs to rebuild the bond between the team and the public.

Part of the problem is that after Brazil won five World Cups playing – mostly – the “jogo bonito” (the beautiful game), fans have little patience with mediocrity.

Many supporters have also been turned off by the way the famous yellow jersey has been hijacked as a symbol by supporters of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.

“This issue of the extreme right appropriating the jersey has distanced part of the country,” said Kfouri, adding that Ancelotti reached out to the fans by saying, “I hope to have the support and help of the country”. AFP