Ancelotti’s Instant Impact: Brazil’s Defensive Transformation

Carlo Ancelotti’s early tenure as Brazil’s head coach has been defined by one glaring statistic: zero goals conceded in two games. The 1-0 win over Paraguay wasn’t just a routine qualifying victory—it was a blueprint for how the Seleção might finally shed their “all flair, no foundation” reputation under the Italian’s structured approach.

The Anti-Joga Bonito?

Ancelotti’s lineup against Paraguay featured a fluid front four, with Vinícius Júnior as a false nine—a role he’s mastered at Real Madrid. Flanked by Raphinha (replacing teenage sensation Estevão) and Gabriel Martinelli, the system prioritized positional rotation over traditional samba flair. Center-forward Matheus Cunha became a perpetual motion machine, popping up everywhere from the left half-space to the byline.

Key stat: Brazil completed 89% of their passes in Paraguay’s half but struggled to break down a low block—a problem Ancelotti solved at Madrid by… well, having Jude Bellingham. Here, the breakthrough came via relentless width: Raphinha’s right-wing cross found Cunha, whose cutback allowed Vinícius to poach the winner between two defenders.

The Invisible Wall

What stands out isn’t just the clean sheets—it’s how they were achieved. Full-backs like Vanderson bombed forward aggressively, yet Brazil never looked exposed. Compare this to last year’s Copa América, where defensive disorganization led to costly errors. Ancelotti has implemented his Madrid template: full-backs create overloads, midfielders cover spaces, and everyone tracks back. Simple? Yes. Effective? Undeniably.

Room for Growth

The second half revealed lingering issues: sluggish build-up against compact defenses and overreliance on individual brilliance (see: Vinícius’s 5 dribbles). But with Casemiro returning and Endrick emerging, Ancelotti now has tools to blend steel with creativity. As one Paraguayan journalist muttered post-game: “This isn’t the Brazil we used to counterattack.” Mission accomplished, Don Carlo.