Latest news with #Selecao
The Hindu
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
How can Brazil qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026 after draw vs Ecuador?
Brazil played out a goalless draw against Ecuador in its latest FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifier at the Banco Pichincha Monumental Stadium. ECU VS BRA: AS IT HAPPENED The draw keeps Brazil fourth in the standings with 22 points from 15 matches. How can Brazil qualify for World Cup 2026? Brazil can reach a maximum of 25 points in the June qualifiers, with the Selecao having one more match against Paraguay. This makes it unlikely that it would confirm sureshot qualification for the World Cup 2026. However, Carlo Ancelotti's men, which is fourth with 22 points in 15 matches, remains a favourite to go through because the top six teams in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers secure direct qualification, while the seventh-place team enters the intercontinental playoffs. After June, the Selecao will play the final two qualifiers against Chile (September 9) and Bolivia (September 14).
The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Why is Neymar not playing in Ecuador vs Brazil FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier?
Brazil is set to play Ecuador in a FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifier at the Banco Pichincha Monumental Stadium on Thursday (Friday, according to IST). FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES FROM THE MATCH With the starting lineups out for both teams, Brazilian star Neymar is a big name missing from the Selecao line-up. Why is Neymar not playing? The reason Neymar is not playing for Brazil in its World Cup qualifier against Ecuador is that he was not named in the squad by new head coach Carlo Ancelotti. Striker Neymar, who is still struggling to return from injury, was not picked. He returned to Santos only last week from a muscular injury, and that was too late for the new coach. Neymar has scored 79 goals in 128 appearances for Brazil, with his last international match being a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October last year, when he suffered an ACL injury.
The Hindu
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Ecuador vs Brazil: Full head-to-head record ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifier
Ecuador will host Brazil in a FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifier at the Banco Pichincha Monumental Stadium on Thursday (Friday, according to IST). As far as head-to-head record is concerned, Brazil is the undisputed winner against Ecuador. ALSO READ: Ecuador vs Brazil LIVE streaming info- How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifier in India, TV channel, online Both teams faced each other for the first time on January 31, 1942, in the Copa America tournament, where the Selecao clinched a 5-1 victory. Since then, both teams have played each other 35 times. Complete head-to-head record Played: 36 Brazil wins: 28 Ecuador wins: 2 Draws; 6
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Five challenges Ancelotti faces as Brazil reign kicks off
SAO PAULO: After a warm welcome to Brazil, Carlo Ancelotti, the Selecao's first foreign coach in more than 50 years, is on a mission to fix a stuttering team and win back fans which starts on Thursday against Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier. The 65-year-old Italian led his first training session on Monday in Guayaquil, Ecuador, ahead of what should be his first match, if his move from Real Madrid passes scrutiny by football's governing body FIFA. AFP identifies five issues Ancelotti faces: Qualify! 'The only goal is to win the 2026 World Cup,' said Ancelotti when he took the job. First he has to get there. The South American group is a two-year, 18-match marathon. Brazil's campaign has included a first-ever home World Cup qualifying defeat, 1-0 at the Maracana to old enemy Argentina, part of a run of three straight defeats in 2023 that ended the coaching reign of Fernando Diniz. Their last match was a 4-1 humiliation in Argentina in March that finished off former coach Dorival Junior. Yet the format is forgiving. The top six in the 10-team group qualify directly for the World Cup. Brazil are fourth, six points clear of Venezuela in seventh with four matches to go. Ecuador may be second in the group, but are only two points ahead of Brazil, who then host Paraguay, who are fifth. Qualifying ends in September with a visit to last-place Chile and a home game against struggling Bolivia. Find a center forward Brazil is still churning out dazzling attackers but the production line has stalled on No. 9s. In this century, Romario, Ronaldo and Adriano have all led the attack and banged in the goals. The nearest player to a classic No. 9 in Ancelotti's first squad is a player he coached at Everton, Richarlison, now of Tottenham. Yet Ancelotti has won without a central striker before. His 2024 Champions League winning side was led by two Brazilians: Vinicius Jr, who is in Ancelotti's squad, and Rodrygo, who he did not select. Ancelotti also has Raphinha of Barcelona, who was joint top scorer in this season's Champions League. Sort out the midfield A bigger problem might be supplying the attackers, veteran Brazilian football journalist Juca Kfouri told AFP. With Brazil's youth academies focusing on defensive midfielders and quick wingers rather than classic creators, the Selecao faces a shortage of ideas in midfield. In Brazil's last two outings Dorival Junior tried Bruno Guimaraes, Gerson, Andre and Joelinton in the role. None convinced. At Madrid, Ancelotti 'had Toni Kroos as a supply line for Vini. Brazil does not have a Toni Kroos,' said sports writer Tim Vickery on his 'Brazilian Shirt Name' podcast. Ancelotti has recalled Kroos' former Real Madrid midfield partner Casemiro, although the 33-year-old now with Manchester United is primarily a defensive player to add, the coach said, 'charisma, personality and talent.' Find full-backs The supply of swashbuckling fullbacks, such as Carlos Alberto, Cafu and Roberto Carlos — another hallmark of great Brazil teams — has also dried up. Ancelotti has recalled Carlos Augusto, part of the Inter Milan team crushed in the Champions League final, and picked Flamengo duo Wesley Franca and Alex Sandro after seeing them play last week in a 1-0 victory over Venezuelan team Deportivo Tachira in the Copa Libertadores. Win back the fans Ancelotti needs to rebuild the bond between the team and the public. Part of the problem is that after Brazil won five World Cups playing — mostly — the 'jogo bonito' (the beautiful game), fans have little patience with mediocrity. But many supporters have been turned off by the way the famous yellow jersey has been hijacked as a symbol by supporters of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. 'This issue of the extreme right appropriating the jersey has distanced part of the country,' said Kfouri, adding Ancelotti called on the fans when he took the job saying, 'I hope to have the support and help of the country.' — AFP
United News of India
2 days ago
- General
- United News of India
Brazil feeling Ancelotti effect
Rio De Janeiro, June 4 (UNI) Defender Marquinhos has praised the early impact of Carlo Ancelotti on Brazil's national team, expressing confidence that the newly appointed manager can inject a spark into the squad as it prepares for crucial World Cup qualifiers. Ancelotti, who officially took charge last week after leaving Real Madrid, will lead Brazil for the first time on Thursday when the Selecao confronts Ecuador in Guayaquil. Five days later, Brazil will host Paraguay in Sao Paulo. Wins in both matches will all but secure the five-time world champion a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Brazil currently sits fourth in South America's qualifying standings, with the top six teams earning direct entry. "The expectations, desire and ambition are the best possible," Marquinhos told a news conference from Brazil's training base in Teresopolis, near Rio de Janeiro, on Tuesday. "The new manager has already shown the strength he has and what he can do in football, the intelligence he has. That's what the national team needs." The 31-year-old said the squad had already begun to respond to the Italian's leadership and charisma. "You can see already that Carlo brings a certain energy," the former Corinthians and Roma player said. "There is a feeling of something new and that something is coming. This short period before the [2026] World Cup is going to be very important. "But it's just a start and we know that everything will depend on what we do on the pitch. When we start winning we can also get the fans and the press on our side and everything will be easier. Hopefully this good energy can help us to get the job done on the pitch." Marquinhos arrived in Brazil less than three days after captaining Paris Saint-Germain to its first-ever UEFA Champions League title with a 5-0 victory over Inter Milan at Allianz Arena in Munich. "My voice is coming back a little now. But these were days and nights of great emotion," he said. "I think it's worth mentioning that Paris believed in a project for 12 years, even back when it seemed distant. Having managed to achieve a goal in such a way was very special. Being part of that was gratifying. "There's only one year to go until the World Cup and within PSG I've already seen that the dynamics within a team can change very quickly. I hope that happens here in the national team as well." UNI/XINHUA BM
