Carlo Ancelotti named his first Brazil squad since the World Cup on Wednesday, opening the cycle toward the 2030 tournament with eight uncapped players among the 26 called up for friendlies against Australia and India. The list, released at 3 pm in Brasilia, delivers the renewal the Italian coach promised after Brazil fell in the round of 16 at this year's World Cup.
The tour starts in Oceania. Brazil meet Australia on September 25 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, then face the same opponent on the 29th at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The trip ends in India: on October 3, at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, the senior national teams of the two countries meet for the first time in history.
The newcomers
Eight players could win their first senior caps: goalkeepers Pedro Morisco of Coritiba and Otávio of Cruzeiro; centre-backs Arthur Dias of Athletico Paranaense and Jair Cunha of Nottingham; full-backs Matheuzinho of Corinthians and Mauro Júnior of PSV; and midfielders Breno Bidon of Corinthians and Gabriel Bontempo of Santos.
Nine men survived from the group eliminated in the round of 16: Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, Douglas Santos, Bruno Guimarães, Danilo, Raphinha, Rayan, Endrick and Vinícius Júnior. The attack adds Estêvão, João Pedro, Pedro and Samuel Lino, while Hugo Souza, Douglas Luiz, Andrey Santos, Wesley and Victor Reis complete the squad. According to Folha de S.Paulo, the average age dropped from 28.5 to 24 compared with the World Cup group, and ten of the 26 play in Brazil, with Corinthians the best-represented club at three call-ups.
The tactical read
None of the eight newcomers is a forward. Ancelotti refreshed goalkeepers, defenders and midfielders, and kept the front line with Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Endrick and Rayan, the four attackers who went to the World Cup. In plain terms, the Italian sees defense and midfield as the construction sites of the new cycle, and the attack as the sector that needs the fewest repairs.
Speaking after the announcement, Ancelotti stressed that this is a period of observation and that experienced players left out can still return. "We have to prioritize young players who will be the right age for the next World Cup or the next Copa America," he said.
"It is a balanced list, with players who were at the World Cup. It will be important for the next generation. We have young players with the quality to represent the future of the national team in the coming years. And we also have players who are playing very well in the Brazilian championship."