Soccer-Ancelotti happy as friendly tour provides first building blocks of a new Brazil

Soccer-Ancelotti happy as friendly tour provides first building blocks of a new Brazil

The Star Online - Sport·2026-10-04 08:00

KOLKATA, Oct ⁠3 (Reuters) - Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti said he was satisfied with ⁠how his players fared in the first tour since their ‌last-16 exit from the World Cup in July, which ended with a 4-0 win over India on Saturday after two matches against Australia.

Ancelotti heavily rotated his squad during ​the three friendlies and every player in ⁠his 26-man roster got some ⁠game time. Only Vinicius Jr and Danilo started all three matches, while ⁠eight ‌players made their international debuts.

Nearly two-thirds of Brazil's World Cup squad missed the tour as Ancelotti launched his bid ⁠to build up the next generation of the national ​team.

"We’ve come out ‌of this period feeling positive because the players performed well, although ⁠some could ​do better. Every player has their own character," Ancelotti told reporters after the tour ended with two wins and a draw.

"Ultimately, we’re satisfied. It doesn’t ⁠matter what standard the matches are at, ​what matters to us is preparing well for them and trying to do our best, taking all the circumstances into account... I’m getting to ⁠know these players much better."

Vanderson and Samuel Lino got their first international goals, with the latter scoring a brace against 138th-ranked India.

"It’s been a very interesting period. I have a much clearer idea for ​the next squad selection," Ancelotti said, referring to ⁠upcoming friendlies against Japan and Singapore in November.

"Obviously, we won’t be making ​many changes but we need to develop ‌other young players who weren’t in ​the squad this time but will be next time," he added.

(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Kolkata; editing by Clare Fallon)

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