Neymar was still almost unquestionable in the Brazilian team, technical leader of a squad that had already been led by Tite for more than six years. Time allowed the coach to gain a good understanding of the players at his disposal so that, between the 2018 and 2022 World Cup, he could maintain the team’s base.
This is what Brazil was like the last time they played against Croatia, in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar. The Croatian team eliminated the green and yellow team on penalties.
Just over three years after that clash, the two teams will face each other again this Tuesday (31), in Orlando, in the United States. This time, in a friendly, the last for both before being called up for this year’s World Cup.
The Brazilian team is very different from the one that played in the Middle East. Neymar not only stopped being unquestionable. He has not been called up even once by the current coach, Carlo Ancelotti, at the head of the team since May last year.
Injured at the time of the Italian’s first call-up, the athlete has lived with successive physical problems since then. According to the coach, these issues prevented him from recovering 100% of his physical fitness, a condition that he says he considers non-negotiable.
Even with the requirement, the coach had to get used to dealing with constant changes in his squad due to injuries. In the current friendly window, three players were cut shortly before the duel with France, last Thursday (26) — goalkeeper Alisson, left-back Alex Sandro and defender Gabriel Magalhães.
After the duel, two more athletes left the group due to physical problems, Raphinha and Wesley.
In principle, none of these losses are a concern for the squad for the World Cup. The only certain name that Ancelotti had to discard was that of Real Madrid striker Rodrygo, who tore the meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee at the beginning of the month and is out for the remainder of the season.
Given the departure of Raphinha and Wesley, Ancelotti named Ibañez and Luiz Henrique as substitutes against Croatia.
Brazil should have five changes compared to the formation that lost to France, 2-1, in a game in which they were dominated by their rival and even conceded the second goal when they already had an extra man, after the expulsion of defender Upamecano. The performance drew a series of criticisms, with clear signs of problems in all sectors.
In defense, Marquinhos now returns to the starting lineup after being left out of the last game due to hip pain. In midfield, Danilo gets a chance to replace Andrey Santos. In attack, João Pedro replaces Gabriel Martinelli.
With the changes, Vinicius Junior should play wide on the left side, in the role he usually plays at Real Madrid. Against France, he played centrally in attack and managed to produce little.
Ancelotti stated this Monday (30) that he already has a “very clear idea” of his team considered starting and “also quite defined for the final list”. His plan was to apply this idea and give rhythm to the chosen players, which was not possible.
“The aim of the games against France and Croatia was to test the starting team. The starting team is not [disponível] due to a lot of injuries”, he stated. “The idea was not to do tests in these games. The idea was to test the starting team. We will have to find another way. We are in the correct process. Criticism is normal. I’m very clear that the most important thing is the result, but for us the most important result is the first game of the World Cup.”
The final squad for the World Cup is scheduled for May 18th.
Ancelotti is the fourth professional to lead the national team since Tite’s departure, shortly after the last World Cup. The squad passed through the hands of interims Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz, before being led by Dorival Júnior. The changes had a direct impact on the construction of the squad for this year’s World Cup.
Despite the scenario, the Brazilian team coach tries to demonstrate optimism. “We need calm and tranquility because the entire commission and the entire CBF [Confederação Brasileira de Futebol] they are convinced that we are on the right path and at the right point. I think it’s been a good job so far,” said the Italian.
Record
Brazil x Croatia (Friendly)
Date and time: March 31, 2026 (Tuesday) | 9pm (Brasília time)
Local: Camping World Stadium, in Orlando (USA)
Where to Watch: TV Globo, Ge TV and SporTV
Brazil
Bento, Ibañez, Marquinhos, Léo Pereira and Douglas Santos; Casemiro and Danilo; Luiz Henrique, Matheus Cunha, João Pedro and Vinicius Junior
Technical: Carlo Ancelotti
Croatia
Livakovic; Pongracic, Erlic e Vuskovic; Marco Pasalic, Mario Pasalic, Modric, Sucic e Perisic; Vlasic e Matanovic
Technical: Zlatko Dalic
