Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil’s coach, has made it clear how he wants his team to play, without giving much thought to the past, ahead of the match against Croatia.
“Jogo bonito? The last two World Cups that Brazil won, they did so by connecting talent and defence. With ‘Felipao’ (Scolari) and his three centre-backs in 2002, for example, and in 1994 Parreira placed two lines of four to take advantage of Romario up front. There is no other way than to defend well. The World Cup is won by those who concede the least and not by those who score the most. I don’t like to be called defensive but it is very important for the team.”
“This year that I’ve been in charge we qualified and also early, we’ve analysed a lot of players and we have a very clear, very defined idea for the first game and we have a very defined final list of players as well. We want to have mobility up front, with a striker, perhaps, but with mobility, which takes the game to the unpredictable point. I think we’ve done a good job so far, we need calmness and tranquility, criticism too of course, but although the most important thing is the result, there are more important results and less important ones, and the important one is the World Cup”.Vinicius and Raphinha. Not a single compliment has been spared in the run-up to the match against Croatia’s six-time European champion Luka Modric, whom he also praised in Carleto’s style. “Madrid is Madrid, and Brazil is Brazil, with Raphinha and Vini we have two of the best in the world, in fact Vini plays tomorrow, and they will be two of the best in the World Cup, we have to get them to put all the quality they are showing now for the team, but I know they will do well for their character and personality, they will have a good World Cup.”
What about Luka? “Modric? He can play as a midfielder, as a pivot, as an 8 at Madrid, he can do everything in midfield because he is a complete, modern midfielder, one of the best players I coached, a spectacular professional with a tremendous passion for football which allows him at 40 years of age to be one of the best midfielders. Modric is unique, in the world market there is no one like him”.
The list of 26 is approaching and there are some surprises. What about Endrick? “Look, I knew Endrick as an attacker, central and now he plays more on the side, doing well there too, a position that requires more defensive work, but for his age and his structure he is doing it, he can do it, we are looking at his evolution, like many others he will be the future of the national team without a doubt”.
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