Brazil has a cohesive backbone and seeks to provide the answers that Ancelotti lacked in the last match of the year
Brazil will end 2025 with more certainties than doubts. The friendly match with Tunisia, on Tuesday, at 4:30pm (Brasilia time) in Lille, France, could be important for Carlo Ancelotti to clear some doubts seven months before the World Cup.
The Brazilian technical committee chose matches with African teams to conclude the season. Before Tunisia, Brazil beat Senegal 2-0 in London in what was one of the best performances under Ancelotti.
Once this FIFA deadline expires, the national team will only take the field in 2026. In March, the opponents will France and Croatia. In May, the coach will announce the 26 who will compete in the World Cup.
The Italian’s backbone has been formed, as he himself confirmed. This includes identifying defenders (Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes), a pair of midfielders and men trusted by the coach (Casimiro and Bruno Guimarães) and an attacking line that includes four strikers who also help with marking in the middle.
Three of them are unlikely to leave the team: Rodrigo, Vinnie Jr and Estevao. Matthews Cunha He started against the Senegalese, but Rafinha, absent from this FIFA date, is a strong candidate to complete the quartet.
The victory over Senegal was important for Brazil to prove that they had found a basis and a way to play. However, there are still some issues to be resolved. The full-backs on both sides have not yet been identified.
The quartet of four mobile strikers is talented and has worked some games, but Brazil still lacks a reliable number 9. Who will this athlete be? Richarlison? Joao Pedro? Victor Roque? Or even Indrik, who was not summoned?
How will Ancelotti line up the midfield against stronger opponents? With only a few games to go until the World Cup, will the coach make further tactical changes or strengthen the 4-4-2?
The plan, at least for the duel with Tunisia, is to maintain this formation, which the leader praised. He said: “We must have a clear idea of what to do. The system that includes many (players) in attack has worked, but we also have to think about a more defensive formation as an alternative plan.”
The coach confirmed that Wesley will play on the right wing. The former Flamengo player replaces Gabriel Magalhaes, a defender who was recalled due to injury. Thus, Eder Militao forms the defense with Marquinhos. This should be the only change in the lineup compared to the team that started the confrontation with the Senegalese.
The coach said: “We want to play a good match and continue the same dynamic against Senegal, which was beautiful in terms of its style, strength and quality.” Ancelotti, who has been in charge since last May, will complete his eighth match with the Brazilian national team on Tuesday. There are four wins, one draw and two defeats.
Brazil x Tunisia
- Brazil: Ederson, Wesley, Eder Militao, Marquinhos and Alex Sandro; Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães; Estévão, Matheus Cunha, Vinny Junior and Rodrigo. idiomatic: Carlo Ancelotti.
- Tunisia: Ayman Dahman; Valerie, Talebi, Bron and Ali Abdi; Elias Skhiri; Love of my eyes, forced; Al-Gharbi and Saad; Hazem Mastouri. idiomatic:Sami Trabelsi.
- arbitrator: Jerome Brisard (France).
- time: 4:30 pm (Brasilia time).
- location: Decathlon Arena, in Lille, France.
- television: Globo, Sport TV, and Globoplay.
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