Brazil, with so many great right-backs in its history, will be without any in the squad that will begin its search for a sixth championship on Saturday (13).
Wesley, 22, the only one in his position among those called up by Carlo Ancelotti for the World Cup in North America (USA, Mexico and Canada are the hosts from Thursday), was injured in the friendly against Egypt and was cut.
To replace him, it was expected that the Italian coach would call one of the right-backs from the pre-list sent to FIFA, from where comes the replacement for someone who, due to illness or injury, is unable to play in the competition.
The names on it are Vitinho (Botafogo), 26, and Paulo Henrique (Vasco), 29. Both had an opportunity with Carletto last year. The Vasco native scored a goal, in a friendly against Japan, in Tokyo.
The two must have been hopeful when they learned that Wesley had a chance of not remaining with the team. And they were disappointed to learn that, for the vacancy, the chosen one was a midfielder: Éderson, who is leaving Atalanta (Italy) to play for Manchester United (England).
I didn’t understand this ancelottice. There were already four midfielders among the 26 called up for the World Cup: starters Bruno Guimarães and Casemiro and reserves Danilo Santos and Fabinho. Why one more? What are the chances of Éderson having a relevant role in the World Cup? Minimum.
And the right side is completely orphaned. Even if there is a lack of talent, isn’t it better to have at least one athlete who is used to playing there? In my opinion, yes. In Ancelotti’s view, who concluded that there is not a single good Brazilian right-back, no.
A firm fan of a defensive line with four behind, he will have to improvise, placing a defender on the right. It will be Ibañez, 27, or veteran Danilo, 34.
Danilo, the coach’s trusted man and seen by him as a wildcard – capable of playing in all positions in the defensive sector – even played a lot of time as a wing-back, but in recent years he has played mostly in defense, for Juventus (Italy) or Flamengo, where he is a reserve for Léos (Ortiz and Pereira).
Another option is to have Fabinho, 32, return to playing on the wing. He started in the sector, but he has been a midfielder for longer than Danilo has been a defender.
Without an original full-back, Ancelotti will have very few days to adapt anyone, regardless of the choice. Marking is not a big problem, marking is always easier than creating. But the support, the attack, is hampered.
It’s even scary to want Danilo or Fabinho to do the “come and go”, because, even in good shape, they are no longer boys. After 30, your legs start to feel heavy. In this scenario, Ibañez, with little experience for the national team, is the favorite to be improvised.
If it happens, it will be a huge challenge for the defender who only played seven games for Brazil. He played the entire match just once, at the beginning of 2023. Under the command of interim Ramon Menezes, he formed a partnership with Éder Militão in a friendly against Morocco.
AND. Morocco. Brazil’s first opponent in this World Cup. Result of that game? Morocco 2 x 1 Brazil.
Champions in World Cups always with big names on the right flank (De Sordi and Djalma Santos in 1958, Djalma Santos in 1962, Carlos Alberto in 1970, Jorginho in 1994 and Cafu in 2002), Brazil will seek the sixth without any.
It is not an impediment. Germany won the 2014 World Cup (7-1) with a defender, Höwedes, playing on the left flank – in a primarily defensive role. But the Brazilian who enters there will have to do his best to get the job done.
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