Ancelotti is a world class coach and has a good report with Brazilian players but I don’t see this changing anything. Maybe this gets the best out of Vinicius but also seen Vini lack discipline under Ancelotti as well.
Well, I hope there are changes to the midfield and stability of the team, basically. I agree though that things won't change much overall. The hope is for better performances, but with changes to shape and attitude, but mostly with the same names. One thing I am pretty sure of is that the list of names will not change much. Not because he is joining late, but because fans always overestimate how many changes we can expect to see with a new coach. There's a reason most lists are 90% the same and it's simply that those are the best options. Also, I think most people would bet on Casemiro being in his first call-up because Ancelotti knows him and because of his recent patch of good form.
From Ednaldo's announcement: the convocação will be made by Ancelotti on Monday, May 26. It will be 23 names. The pre-list will be compiled by Rodrigo Caetano and Juan. My guess is that this time the pre-list will not be released, but who knows, ultimately Ednaldo makes those decisions (even though he shouldn't) and he did it last time despite the advice not to.
Ancelotti confirmed it in his press conference, but aside from the confirmation, he focused on Real Madrid (as he should) and said he won't talk about Brazil until May 26: https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/fute...e-nega-a-falar-sobre-selecao-ate-o-dia-26.htm
Not a bad thing, as it would've been a colossal embarrassment which would last decades if Ancelotti announced he wasn't going to manage Brazil after Ednaldo made his own announcement. I'm not going to claim I am an expert on Ancelotti, and I don't necessarily believe UEFA managers are all outstanding (even though several very clearly are). But what I gather from his modus operandi is that he is (according to some voices from Brazil's sports news commentariat) Tite's "idol." If I interpret this correctly, Ancelotti is a studious observer of the game. That can only help improve the team. Brazilian sports news websites have already been flooded with comments about what he is speculated to do with his first roster. I for one wouldn't mind if he leaves most Campeonato Brasileiro players off the first match in WCQ. Bring the best avaialble talent for each position and if that means upsetting some tupiniquim/pacheco stalwarts. so be it.
Lots of talk about who Carlo Ancelotti will call up. I am waiting for the pre-list to make any predictions. Without it, it's virtually impossible to predict as you first have to predict what kind of pre-list Juan and Rodrigo Caetano will make. I'd love to see Carlos Augusto on it for example, and many have pointed out that Ancelotti has mentioned him before, but he wasn't even on the last pre-list. Less than a week until the pre-list comes out though (if it's revealed like it was last time) and less than two weeks to Ancelotti's first call-up.
It’s like waiting for the woman of your dreams to get divorced, only now she is post-menopausal and can’t bear children. What’s the point? Ancelotti has 4 official matches until the WC to build a competitive team out of this mess. We should’ve settled for JJ in early 2023.
Typically things that don't start right, don't end right. It's clear now that he was indeed supposed to come last season ... and he either dicked Ednaldo around or got freaked out when Ednaldo was temporarily removed from CBF. My guess is the latter. But now he is coming with very little time to develop his work. I hope for the best, but I am not very optimistic. I also saw yesterday that he told Madrid he'd already be leaving way back in November. Dorival really had little chance of making to the WC.
https://ge.globo.com/futebol/seleca...madri-para-encontro-com-carlo-ancelotti.ghtml Rodrigo Caetano and Juan are in Madrid. They will meet with Ancelotti to go over the coaching staff and the pre-list. The pre-list will be revealed on Sunday, just like it was last time.
A few good European journalists talking about Ancelotti to Brazil. The first half of the podcast is about Real Madrid, the next part is about Brazil. They start with the "failure of coaching" in Brazil: A good part of it is speculating about coaching in Brazil, based on what they see (Brazil still exporting players, but not developing coaches) and just stories about Ancelotti. Not as much insight as I wished, but something different to watch.
The Rio de Janeiro court has removed Ednaldo Rodrigues as President of CBF. Fernando Sarney takes over and will call for new elections: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/notici...ednaldo-rodrigues-da-presidencia-da-cbf.ghtml What's next? FIFA and CONMEBOL will step in to remind everyone that only CBF can handle their own business. With the conference in Assuncion going on right now I think they will be in Brazil very shortly. CBF will probably elect someone, everyone will be satisfied and they will abandon Ednaldo for the newest guy they can get behind. We just have to hope that, as corrupt as he may be, he at least handles things better. Ednaldo will appeal, we'll see how that goes. He seems to have lost the support he had, all very quickly, and is probably counting on public sentiment + Gilmar Mendes to save him (public sentiment thanks to hiring Ancelotti). What will happen with Ancelotti? Well, the good thing about Rodrigo Caetano and Juan being kept is that they are handling the process now and hopefully everything will continue along the planned lines.
This isn't very important in the whole scheme of things but I wonder if we might not get the prelist released now. It was released last time because Ednaldo wanted it. As with a lot of his announcements it was probably done to distract and give the press something to talk about. Rodrigo Caetano was against it. On the other hand, it has already been said it will be released. Maybe that expectation is enough for them to feel like they can't go back on it now.
Gilmar Mendes was the one that sent this lawsuit to Rio de Janeiro in the first place, so the chances of Ednaldo winning the appeal aren’t very good. Gilmar is likely trying to distance himself from CBF after the Piaui magazine report and the suspension of those 4 ESPN journalists that mentioned it in a broadcast.
Well, not only that, but by the end of the day yesterday there were plenty of reports about where Gilmar Mendes' allegiances in CBF lie, now that Ednaldo is burned and has lost favor. Apparently the likeliest candidate right now is the next President of the Federação of Roraima. He represents them in CBF, but he was just elected to take over Roraima in 2027, when the current President's term ends. The current President is his father, and he has been there for 40 years. And Roraima is not exactly a state has grown or done much with their Federação. The candidate's day job is doctor (and probably a cushy type of doctor job, like a lot of these wealthy kids who follow this path). Would be ironic if one of these days someone the mafia that runs this thing wants turns around and says, hey, I actually like soccer and want to do something good with this role, but we don't even need that. Just someone who can shield the national team form this nonsense. Let these idiots have their cushy life, but let the national team have the resources it needs at the same time. We have plenty of money. At any rate, let's see if he remains the candidate. Elections have been set for Sunday, May 25, so that there will be a new President when Ancelotti arrives on the 26th.
As I sort of predicted, the pre-list will no longer be released. Rodrigo Caetano, Juan and Ancelotti all agree it's best not to do what Ednaldo did last time: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/seleca...cao-definitiva-sera-divulgada-no-dia-26.ghtml
A few notes about where we're at now: Elections must be held within 30 days of Ednaldo's removal, by CBF statutes. Sarney calls for elections on May 25 (Sunday, day before Ancelotti arrives). Samir Xaud, who has no experience and is jut the future President of Roraima's Federação emerges as the frontrunner 19 Federations voice their support for him And, from the articles I'll post below: All clubs in Serie A and B (except Palmeiras, cause Leila is suddenly missing) endorse the President of the Federação Paulista Clubs point out that the election is set for a day of matches and no one in the Samir Xaud camp even reached out to them for support Samir Xaud requests Sarney delay elections by one day, in an effort to appease clubs CBF confirms the elections for Sunday, and allows for remote voting. https://ge.globo.com/futebol/notici...e-devem-apoiar-reinaldo-carneiro-bastos.ghtml https://ge.globo.com/futebol/seleca...assembleia-geral-e-autoriza-voto-remoto.ghtml There is also talk of the Rio Grande do Sul's President being a viable candidate and even Sarney, but I think that may be off the table by now. At any rate, I think most pundits are in the clubs' camp, and against Samir Xaud, but I think the clubs will need all 8 remaining federations on their side.
Today was the day to officialize candidates, and there will be only one candidate: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/notici...ra-candidato-unico-a-presidencia-da-cbf.ghtml In the end, Samir Xaud got the support of 25 Federations and 10 clubs. That leaves only 2 Federations, which is not enough to register another candidate.
There's plenty of stuff to break down about the clubs breaking away to support Samir Xaud (who is Gilmar Mendes' candidate now), Ednaldo backing down and what happens now, but I'm going to take a break from all that political stuff at CBF for now and recommend ge for up to date news (and if something like Piauí's news happens again, I'll share that here). Here's the latest if you want to kee up: https://ge.globo.com/ce/futebol/not...m-mudanca-de-estatuto-e-criacao-da-liga.ghtml
Not surprisingly, although the pre-list won't be officially released, names have leaked. Names from Flamengo, the French league, some other Brazil clubs and some English clubs. Here is the latest: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/seleca...e-retorno-a-selecao-apos-mais-de-um-ano.ghtml Leaked names so far (in brackets, I put how many names were on the last list in that position). In bold, names that were NOT on the last list. GK: Hugo Souza (1/6) RB: Vanderson, Wesley, Dodô (3/4) CD: Danilo, Léo Ortiz, Fabricio Bruno, Alexsandro (Lille) (4/8) LB: Alex Sandro, Caio Henrique (2/4) Mid: Andrey, Gérson, Oscar, Alan Patrick, Casemiro, Neymar (6/14) Fwd: Richarlison, João Pedro, Igor Paixão, Evanílson, Pedro (5/16) The bad: Neymar is there, but even if he plays Thursday, let's be honest, that's not enough. He can't be called up among 23 players. The good: Caio Henrique is back, Andrey is on the pre-list again. These are 21 out of 52 (if it's the same as last time) names. Hopefully Carlos Augusto is among them. Hopefully we see a bit more balance in midfield. Igor Paixão is a deserved mention, but he was on the last pre list too, so not as big of a surprise as some headlines are making it. (That's part of the problem with releasing the pre-list).
For anyone interested, here is an interview with the co-writer of Carlo's biography. Quite interesting, I think. He seems to think Ancelotti will be able to adapt here and do well, and that's considering CBF politics, the expectation that he live here and watch Brazilian players, and the understanding that the only measure of success is winning the World Cup:
Real Madrid made its official announcement today: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/futebo...madrid-anuncia-saida-de-carlo-ancelotti.ghtml The call-up will be at 3pm (Brazil time) on Monday. Surprised no more names have leaked since earlier this week. Lots of "meaningless" matches in Europe this weekend as the leagues wrap up. Fingers crossed for no injuries. Endrick, however, will be out as he was injured last week and is out for 2 months. And in Italy, the title will be decided today, with Carlos Augusto's Inter needing to win, and hopeing Napoli don't win, to take the title.
UOL published a Whoscored based list of the best Brazilian in Europe: https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/fute...a-europa-tem-andrey-santos-jubal-e-astros.htm It would be a 4-2-3-1 with: G - Alisson (Liverpool-ING): 6,80 LD - Vanderson (Monaco-FRA): 6,91 Z - Jubal (Auxerre-FRA): 7,04 Z - Murillo (Nottingham Forest-ING): 7,03 LE - Mauro Júnior (PSV Eindhoven-HOL): 7,08 M - Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle-ING): 7,00 M - Andrey Santos (Strasbourg-FRA): 7,33 MAD - Rodrygo (Real Madrid-ESP): 7,13 MAC - Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton-ING): 7,34 MAE - Raphinha (Barcelona-ESP): 7,64 A - Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid-ESP): 7,25 (The article says Caio Henrique in the body, but lists Mauro Jr in the line-up. I checked and Mauro Jr. is indeed the higher rated one on whoscored). Really the only two players not on the radar yet (as far as we know) are Jubal and Mauro Jr. I could see Mauro Jr. getting some attention sooner or later, or getting a mvoe that puts him on the radar. Jubal, at 31 though and playing for Auxerre probably not. He also has 6 goals this season, which really inflates his overall rating. Alexsandro plays for a team that competes for Champions League football (they were in CL this year, just Europa next season) and is 6 years younger, so definitely a more realistic prospect. Of course, the 2 in the middle line-up would be a problem, but not too crazy of a line-up overall.
Reportedly Rodyrgo will be rested this weekend and probably not available for the qualifiers: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/seleca...lmente-defendera-a-selecao-na-data-fifa.ghtml