Brazil entered the World Cup burdened by a series of challenges. Since their last appearance in Qatar 2022, the team has seen four managerial changes, called up 95 players, and faced a political upheaval that included the removal of the Brazilian Football Confederation president. Amid this turmoil, the atmosphere among fans was filled with skepticism. However, the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti has begun to reshape the team’s fortunes, rekindling hopes of clinching a sixth World Cup title after a 24-year absence, matching the longest gap in history between wins, which spanned from 1970 to 1994.
Ancelotti has emerged as a protective figure for the players. Even veteran athletes like Alisson, Danilo, Marquinhos, and Casemiro feel reassured under the watch of the most decorated manager in Champions League history, boasting five titles to his name.
“It’s undeniable that this World Cup cycle has been very difficult for us players,” remarked Alisson, now in his third World Cup. “We’ve experienced all these difficulties first-hand. But since Ancelotti’s arrival, the atmosphere has been transformed. He gives us the peace of mind that comes from an environment focused on work, without having to worry about controversies or other issues”
“Our team wasn’t in great form, but Ancelotti made the necessary changes,” noted Marquinhos. “He’s very smart. He knows how to get the best out of the players he has and help them improve. He managed to change our mindset and created a philosophy centred on wellbeing.”
The recent victory against Japan in the last-32 stage marked another wound that Ancelotti successfully healed. Historically, conceding an early goal would have disrupted Brazil’s rhythm. In fact, since the beginning of 2023, Brazil had allowed the first goal of a match on 12 occasions, resulting in seven losses, four draws, and only one win — a World Cup qualifier against Chile in October 2024.
The shock of Keishu Sano’s goal was palpably felt. Brazil’s discomfort was evident, but Ancelotti managed to transform the team’s spirit. He utilized the half-time break effectively, addressing the players in a manner that took everyone by surprise.
“Ancelotti is an incredible man,” stated Gabriel Martinelli, who netted the decisive goal against Japan, in an interview with CazeTV. “It’s easy to understand why he has won everything he has ever competed for. He gave us a lot of confidence. He said we were going to equalise and then win, that we had to believe in ourselves. You can see from his body language just how calm he is. He passes that confidence on to us”
Not shying away from tough decisions, Ancelotti made the controversial choice to omit Neymar from the starting lineup. The 34-year-old is not the player he once was and is still regaining full fitness. Unlike less seasoned managers who might have prioritized Neymar’s inclusion, Ancelotti has limited his playtime to just 14 minutes in this World Cup, during the match against Scotland, and did not field him against Japan. Neymar has come to terms with his evolving role on the team, recognizing that he is no longer Brazil’s marquee player; that honor now belongs to Vinícius Júnior.
Ancelotti’s adept man-management has always positioned him as the ideal coach for the Seleção. He consistently underscores that while Brazil possesses abundant talent, that alone cannot guarantee a World Cup victory. To this end, alongside his assistants Paul Clement, Francesco Mauri, and his son Davide Ancelotti, he collaborates with Marisa Santiago, the first psychologist to join Brazil’s coaching staff for a World Cup. Ancelotti consults with Santiago daily, seeking her insights to enhance the players’ mental fortitude. She has also been engaging with the players to assist Ancelotti in cultivating the optimal environment.
As Brazil prepares to face Norway, Ancelotti is confronted with the challenge of addressing one of the most significant wounds. Since their triumph over Germany in the 2002 final in Yokohama, Brazil has struggled to defeat European teams in World Cup knockout matches. They have faced defeats against France (2006), the Netherlands (2010), Germany (2014), Belgium (2018), and Croatia (2022). In addition to strategizing against Erling Haaland, Ancelotti will need to focus on reinforcing the mental resilience of the Brazilian squad to prevent the haunting memories of past World Cups from resurfacing.
A victory on Sunday may not immediately place Brazil among the tournament favorites in many eyes, but it could change perceptions, instilling belief that they might finally break their lengthy drought for the World Cup trophy.
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