Carlo Ancelotti has already said that he is a coach without philosophy, without an established strategy and that he acts according to the quality and characteristics of the players on his team and the opponent. Based on his technical and tactical knowledge, he already has a way of playing, with few variations, which he used in the national team’s matches.
By not having great players in midfield and by having many skillful, talented and fast attackers on the sides and in the center, the coach has prioritized quick transitions from defense to attack and individual attacks, which have worked well. The other strong teams prefer the association of many midfielders to exchange passes, control the ball and the game and wait for the right moment to try to score. The ideal is to combine the two strategies in the same game, depending on the moment.
The Brazilian team must score with nine players (four defenders, two midfielders, two wingers who attack and defend and another centralized midfielder who returns to score). To attack, there will generally be four players (two wingers, a centralized attacking midfielder and a central attacker), in addition to the occasional advance of one of the midfielders. I fear that the attack and defense will become compartmentalized, separated, with a void in the sector, as has sometimes happened.
Will Ancelotti, against great teams, change his strategy and play a trio in midfield (a central midfielder and a midfielder on each side, who attack, build and defend)? It is unlikely, as there is a lack of great talent in the sector. Close to the 70 World Cup, Zagallo replaced an exceptional, fast and dribbling winger, Edu, for a third midfield player. It worked very well because Rivellino was a great playmaker. The stars have preference.
Ancelotti seems to have decided that, better than choosing young full-backs with little talent, is to improvise as a defender on the right flank (Militão or Danilo) and choose the experienced Alex Sandro on the left. We will miss full-backs who support and advance, however, this is better, especially since the team has excellent wingers.
Paquetá, who was taken for granted, is at risk of not going to the World Cup. In its best position, that of centralized attacking midfielder, the team already has Matheus Cunha, Raphinha and even the possibility of Neymar. In the deepest role, Bruno Guimarães’ backup, Ancelotti prefers a player who is stronger in marking.
Ancelotti said again that Neymar will only go to the World Cup if he is in very good physical shape, as that is the only way he will stand out. That’s clear. More than that, I think that Neymar did not follow the evolution of football, as he started to play in a small space on the field, waiting for the ball at his feet to try a great individual play. Against great teams, they will have few chances.
Ancelotti doesn’t want Vinicius Junior open on the left, as he would then have to come back to score. The coach, rightly so, wants to see him free, moving throughout the attack, as he does today at Real Madrid.
The history of football and the World Cups is a succession and an association of current and old technical, tactical and emotional situations, with foreseen and unexpected moments. Many important events may still occur between now and the World Cup. Nothing is defined.
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