Brazil held in Ancelotti debut
Carlo Ancelotti's debut as coach of Brazil ended in a goalless draw in Ecuador in South American World Cup qualifying on Thursday.
The 65-year-old Italian, who left Real Madrid at the end of the European season, has been charged with taking Brazil through the latter stages of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The former AC Milan and Chelsea manager replaced Dorival Junior, who was sacked at the end of March after the 4-1 thrashing at the hands of reigning champions and bitter rivals Argentina.
Thursday's result leaves the Selecao in fourth place in the qualifying table on 22 points while Ecuador, the surprise package in the campaign, remain in second place on 24 points.
Argentina, who face Chile later on Thursday, lead the standings on 32 points and are the only team to have officially secured their place in the tournament which will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Paraguay, who enjoyed a 2-0 win over Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay, sit in third place, level on points with Ecuador.
Ecuador knew a win would put them on the brink of qualification and there was a packed crowd at the Estadio Monumental in Guayaquil.
But the home side were dealt a blow just before kick-off when goalkeeper Hernan Galindez suffered a muscle strain in the warm-up and replacement Gonzalo Valle was hurriedly sent out to make his debut.
If Valle had any nerves they eased when he did well to parry a shot from inside the box from Vinicius Jr. who had been set up by Gerson following a turnover.
Chances were limited in a contest where neither side was able to get control of midfield.
The pattern continued after the break with Ecuador, missing their injured striker and talisman Enner Valencia, struggling to pose a threat.
Real Madrid star Vinicius was quiet for much of the game and with Rodrygo absent, Brazil also lacked potency in attack.
The best opening came in the 75th minute when Vinicius broke down the left and cut back to Casemiro.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Mbappe ‘not bitter' about PSG's Champions League triumph
STUTTGART: France captain Kylian Mbappe said Saturday he is not bitter Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League the year after his departure for Real Madrid. 'I didn't leave too soon; my story with PSG was over. I am not bitter; I had reached the end of the road,' Mbappe said in a press conference ahead of Sunday's Nations League third place match against Germany in Stuttgart. PSG crushed Inter Milan 5-0 to win the Champions League in Munich last Saturday, the first time the club has won the competition. 'I tried everything, and it was destiny that meant it had to happen without me,' said Mbappe. 'PSG winning the Champions League without me doesn't affect me. I was happy, I think they deserved it. Ballon d'Or 'should go to Champions League winner', says Ronaldo 'They've had so many years where they struggled. I've been there too; I've played in every Champions League stage in Paris except for the victory. 'They're the best team in Europe. 'I don't remember seeing a team win 5-0 in a major final.' Mbappe has repeated his desire to win Europe's biggest club competition, but the closest the Paris-born forward got with his boyhood club was losing the final in 2020 to Bayern Munich. The 26-year-old moved to Madrid in the summer of 2024 hoping to lift the Champions League, but the Spanish giants crashed out in the quarter-finals of the competition to Arsenal in April. Real failed to win a trophy in the 2024-25 season, their first campaign without silverware in four years.
Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Alcaraz puts French Open title on line against scorching Sinner
PARIS: Carlos Alcaraz bids to defend his French Open title against Jannik Sinner as the two stars of a new generation face off in a Grand Slam final for the first time on Sunday. The 22-year-old Alcaraz and Sinner, 23, have together scooped up the last five majors to usher in a new era in men's tennis after two decades defined by the dominance of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz hopes to become the third man this century to retain the Coupe des Mousquetaires after Gustavo Kuerten and Nadal. Sinner is chasing his third successive Grand Slam triumph – and fourth overall – after winning last year's US Open and retaining his Australian Open crown in January. The world number one has lost just seven matches since the start of 2024 but four of those defeats have come against Alcaraz, including a five-set reverse in last year's Roland Garros semi-finals. Alcaraz holds a 7-4 head-to-head edge over Sinner, winning the Italian Open final in Rome three weeks ago as the latter made his return to competition after a three-month doping ban. The Spaniard warned after that final that Sinner would be an even greater threat in Paris with more matches under his belt, and so it has proved with the Italian yet to drop a set at the French Open. Novak Djokovic and Sinner chase French Open semis as underdogs look for upsets 'He's the best tennis player right now,' said Alcaraz. 'I mean, he's destroying every opponent.' Alcaraz is battle-tested having won just two of his six matches in straight sets but had a shorter outing in the semi-finals than perhaps anticipated after Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire. Second seed Alcaraz has little doubt that Sunday's showpiece – the first Grand Slam men's final between two players born in the 2000s – will be one to remember. 'It's going to be a really great Sunday for fans of tennis,' said Alcaraz, who knows he will need to be at his best to deny Sinner a maiden French Open trophy. 'I love that battle. But most of the time is just about suffering, because (he pushes) you to the limit.' 'It doesn't get any bigger' Sinner is 18-1 this year and has picked up where he left off in Melbourne after a doping controversy which forced him off the courts for the Sunshine Swing in the US and the start of the clay-court season. He twice tested positive for traces of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol in March last year, a contamination doping authorities accepted was accidental. Sinner has always maintained the product entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing it to treat a cut. He has looked in prime form in Paris, extending his winning streak in majors to 20 matches to reach a first Roland Garros final. Adriano Panatta was the last Italian man to win the French Open in 1976. Sinner dashed Djokovic's hopes of a record-setting 25th Grand Slam on Friday with a fourth straight win over the 38-year-old Serbian, who admitted the loss may have been his final French Open match. With the last remaining member of the old guard out of the picture, the stage is set for Alcaraz and Sinner to embark on the biggest clash so far in their already gripping rivalry. Both are unbeaten in Grand Slam finals, but that will change come Sunday. 'The stage, it doesn't get any bigger now. Grand Slam finals against Carlos, it's a special moment for me and for him, too,' said Sinner. 'The tension you feel before the match and during the match is a little bit different in a way, because we are both very young, we are both different, but talented.' Comparisons have already been made between the sport's new rivalry and those shared by the big three of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer, but Sinner said it was too early for such talk. 'It takes time to compare us with the big three,' said Sinner. 'I believe that tennis or every sport needs rivalries, no? This could be potentially one of these, but there are amazing players coming up.'
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Brazil held in Ancelotti debut
Carlo Ancelotti's debut as coach of Brazil ended in a goalless draw in Ecuador in South American World Cup qualifying on Thursday. The 65-year-old Italian, who left Real Madrid at the end of the European season, has been charged with taking Brazil through the latter stages of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The former AC Milan and Chelsea manager replaced Dorival Junior, who was sacked at the end of March after the 4-1 thrashing at the hands of reigning champions and bitter rivals Argentina. Thursday's result leaves the Selecao in fourth place in the qualifying table on 22 points while Ecuador, the surprise package in the campaign, remain in second place on 24 points. Argentina, who face Chile later on Thursday, lead the standings on 32 points and are the only team to have officially secured their place in the tournament which will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Paraguay, who enjoyed a 2-0 win over Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay, sit in third place, level on points with Ecuador. Ecuador knew a win would put them on the brink of qualification and there was a packed crowd at the Estadio Monumental in Guayaquil. But the home side were dealt a blow just before kick-off when goalkeeper Hernan Galindez suffered a muscle strain in the warm-up and replacement Gonzalo Valle was hurriedly sent out to make his debut. If Valle had any nerves they eased when he did well to parry a shot from inside the box from Vinicius Jr. who had been set up by Gerson following a turnover. Chances were limited in a contest where neither side was able to get control of midfield. The pattern continued after the break with Ecuador, missing their injured striker and talisman Enner Valencia, struggling to pose a threat. Real Madrid star Vinicius was quiet for much of the game and with Rodrygo absent, Brazil also lacked potency in attack. The best opening came in the 75th minute when Vinicius broke down the left and cut back to Casemiro.
