Ancelotti Shakes Up Brazil with Tactical Surprises in Training

Carlo Ancelotti led his second training session with the Brazilian national team on Tuesday at CT Joaquim Grava in São Paulo, marking the first time he had the full 25-man squad at his disposal since the start of the camp, according to Lance!. The Italian coach utilized the session for warm-up drills and small-sided passing exercises, while goalkeepers Alisson, Bento, and Hugo Souza trained separately with the goalkeeping coach.

Although media access was limited to the initial 15 minutes, reports indicate that Ancelotti tested a 4-3-3 formation featuring Casemiro anchoring the midfield and Vinicius Júnior leading the attack alongside young prospect Estêvão, who may earn his first start. Richarlison completed the forward trio.

The defensive line included Vanderson, Danilo, Marquinhos, and Alex Sandro, with Andreas Pereira and Andrey Santos joining Casemiro in midfield. Notably absent from the starting lineup were Bruno Guimarães and Matheus Cunha, both regulars in previous selections.

Ancelotti is also contemplating a tactical shift to a three-center-back system, deploying Danilo, Marquinhos, and Alex Sandro, as reported by AS. This flexibility could prove crucial in his official debut as Brazil's head coach, set for Thursday, June 5, against Ecuador in Guayaquil, as part of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

During the session, newly appointed CBF president Samir Xaud visited the team, expressing his support for the coaching staff and emphasizing the importance of Ancelotti's autonomy in managing the squad.