Raphinha’s injury was the latest blow to Carlo Ancelotti’s efforts to build a solid right side. Without the Barcelona star, the Brazilian national team coach will have to rebuild a sector that has been constantly harmed by the casualties of those who were his main options for the World Cup.
It is not yet known when the 29-year-old athlete will be able to play in the tournament again.. The only certainty is that the muscle injury in the right thigh will leave him out of, at the very least, the closing match of Group Con Wednesday (24), when Brazil will face Scotland in Miami.
“He’s a guy who’s had incredible seasons, he’s been growing a lot within the national team. So I think that not just him, any player of this importance who is left out is something that we have to restructure quickly,” said midfielder Lucas Paquetá on Sunday.
Raphinha’s injury was more bad news for the Italian coach, who, on the way to North America, saw the absences of Éder Militão, Estêvão, Rodrygo and Wesley.
The quartet were part of Ancelotti’s plan A to dispel doubts about the team as they bid to win a sixth world title.
For now, with one round to go before the end of the group stage, the Brazil leads group C with four points and is virtually qualified for the second phase.
Loss of speed
Raphinha is known for giving speed to a side of the field that is somewhat unbalanced in offensive terms, since Danilo and Ibañez, the two options for the side, have defensive profiles. Both play as defenders for their clubs and arrived in North America after attacking full-backs like Wesley and Vanderson were injured and lost their place in the World Cup.
Militão, a defender at Real Madrid, where he was managed by Ancelotti, was another option for that position, which he held at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. But he suffered a left biceps femoris injury in April.
Without options for full-backs to attack, a position in which ‘Carletto’ recognized shortcomings, the offensive on the right side fell almost completely on Raphinhawhile the left side, with Douglas Santos and Vini, became the axis of the attack.
The Barcelona player did not score or assist in the matches against Morocco (1-1) and Haitibut his football was supported by his teammates and his statistics at Barcelona (21 goals and eight assists in 33 games this season).
“We all know his characteristics, the speed he has, the power to attack space, to finish. So I think we lose a very important player”, said Paquetá.
Opportunity
Since Ancelotti took office a year ago, Vinícius Júnior has been the absolute owner of the left side, so other players like Estêvão and Rodrygo were moved to the other side of the field or to the middle. But the pair were also affected by physical problems and did not make the final squad.
Their spaces were occupied by young attackers, who now have an opportunity: Gabriel Martinelli, Luiz Henrique, Rayan and even Endrick, a center forward by origin, but who has played for Lyon and Real Madrid.
Rayan and Endrick, both 19 years old, have become protected by the fans, who demand from Ancelotti more space for the new generation in response to the Seleção’s irregular play.
