Carlo Ancelotti has officially begun his journey as Brazil’s head coach, marking his first experience leading a national team. Tasked with securing early qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the Italian manager faces a tough challenge on Tuesday as Brazil prepares to take on Paraguay. Fortunately, Ancelotti has received a major boost with the return of one of his star players.
Brazil showed solid defensive organization in Ancelotti’s debut, but the attack struggled to generate real danger. The goalless draw against Ecuador in Guayaquil left plenty of room for improvement. Now, a key player who missed that match could be the spark the team needs.
Carlo Ancelotti will have Raphinha back in the squad for the clash against Paraguay after the Barcelona winger served a one-game suspension. Raphinha had been booked in Brazil’s previous match against Argentina and was forced to sit out the Ecuador fixture.
“Raphinha’s return is good news for us because he showed this past season that he’s one of the best players in the game right now, and he’s going to help us a lot. Tomorrow’s match is important — we need to perform well and move closer to qualification, and Raphinha’s presence will be very important,” stated Ancelotti on Monday’s press conference.
Raphinha was a constant headache in Ancelotti’s side during the 2024–25 season when the coach was still at Real Madrid. In four meetings between Barcelona and Madrid, the Brazilian winger came out on top every time, tallying five goals and two assists.
see also
Guardiola says ‘I would love to’ follow in Ancelotti’s footsteps after Manchester City
Now, the roles have reversed — Ancelotti is counting on Raphinha rather than trying to stop him. The 28-year-old is expected to start on the right wing in place of Estevao, joining Vinicius Jr. on the left and Richarlison through the middle to complete Brazil’s front line.
Ancelotti and the need for improvement
Brazil has long been known for its attacking flair and iconic jogo bonito style, but in recent years, the national team has struggled to reflect that tradition. The 0–0 draw against Ecuador left fans with a bittersweet taste, as the coaching change didn’t immediately produce the attacking revival many had hoped for.
With just over a year until the World Cup, Ancelotti acknowledged the work still to be done: “We’re convinced that good work can be done, but we need time. In the first match, there were some good things and others not so much. We have to improve.”
He also spoke candidly about the expectations surrounding the team and the passion of Brazilian fans. “Criticism is normal — it depends on what you do on the pitch. The idea is to play a good match and get the fans involved. We’ll try to put in an intense performance, play attacking football, but always with respect for Paraguay’s level — they’re a strong team,” he concluded.
