Latest news with #TimVickery
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Football Daily Destination New Jersey: Pressure on Pochettino, Argentine coaches & DR Congo on top
Mark Chapman and Rory Smith continue the countdown to the 2026 World Cup. Nico Cantor of CBS Sports joins to gauge the mood in America as pressure mounts on Mauricio Pochettino. South American football expert Tim Vickery gives the lowdown on Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay, as well as the other South American nations vying for a place at the World Cup. Also hear from Indonesian football expert Andy Fuller, and former DR Congo international Gabriel Zakuani. Timecodes: 00:25 Pressure on Pochettino & USMNT 12:40 Argentine coaches at the WC 16:05 'Unmissable' CONMEBOL qualification 20:25 Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay 26:30 Football in Indonesia 33:10 DR Congo top CAF Group BBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Thu 2000 Czech Republic v England in UEFA U21 Championship, Sun 1700 England v Slovenia in UEFA U21 Championship.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Football Daily Euro Leagues: Xabi's Leverkusen Farewell, & Carlo's off to Rio
Steve Crossman, Raphael Honigstein, Julien Laurens and James Horncastle are back with the latest episode of Euro Leagues. The guys reflect on Xabi Alonso's time at Bayer Leverkusen, and what he'll be thinking about before returning to Los Blancos. Xabi's arrival means Carlo Ancelotti's off to the Brazil national team. Could we see a return to the fold for Neymar? South American football expert Tim Vickery joins the pod with all the latest. Bologna win their first trophy in over 50 years, beating AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final, and Sampdoria are relegated to Serie C for the first time in the club's history. Timecodes: 00:40 Looking back at Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen, & what will life be like back in Madrid? 16:38 Carlo Ancelotti's off to Brazil 29:20 Bologna win Coppa Italia 36:35 Sampdoria relegated to Serie C for the first time BBC Sounds / 5 Live / Radio 5 Sports Extra weekend commentaries: Sat 1630 Men's FA Cup Final: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City (5 Live) Sun 1330 Women's FA Cup Final: Chelsea vs Manchester United (Sports Extra 3) Sun 1415 Premier League: West Ham vs Nottingham Forest (5 Live) Sun 1500 Premier League: Brentford vs Fulham (Sports Extra 2) Sun 1630 Premier League: Arsenal vs Newcastle (5 Live)
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Can Ancelotti fix Brazil and end World Cup hoodoo?
Carlo Ancelotti has agreed to take over as head coach of the Brazil national is one of the most eye-catching appointments in international football a team so deeply tied to the nation's footballing identity, the decision to bring in a foreign coach - one of Europe's elite - signals a desperation to win and an ambition for the struggling Selecao to turn a corner."Ancelotti was the main choice because he has an unrivalled tradition of success, winning in five countries," said South American football expert Tim with the 2026 World Cup around the corner, can Ancelotti fix Brazil? What's gone wrong for Brazil? Brazil's footballing dominance has fallen away in the last two lifting two Copa America titles in that time, in 2007 and 2019, their record at the World Cup - the ultimate measure of success - has been disappointingThey have not won the tournament since 2002, and their recent exits have been painful signals of most dismal came in 2014, when Brazil, hosting the World Cup, were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the got the better of Brazil in a 2018 quarter-final, while 2022 trophy hopes were dashed by defeat to Croatia on penalties in the last eight."Every campaign since 2002 has ended as soon as the side has come up against a European team in the knockout stages," said Vickery."It's become a hoodoo they want to overcome and another reason they've gone with a European coach this time round. They're saying 'if we want to beat them next time round, we need someone who knows them'." Brazil's current World Cup qualifying campaign has been should qualify comfortably enough, but a dire run, including a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Argentina, has caused a scramble for have come and gone in recent years amid the clamour for a winning respected for bringing a sense of order and pride, stepped down as planned after Qatar 2022. The team's most recent coach, Dorival Junior, was sacked following the Argentina has led the Brazilian Football Confederation to deploy a bold plan, one that has been long in their thoughts: Project will officially begin on 26 said: "We were hearing last year that the senior players weren't sold on Dorival Junior, but there will be none of that with Carlo Ancelotti."He has instant credibility in the dressing room." A foreign regime In over a century of international football, Brazil's football federation has largely shied away from trusting foreign managers with its top three non-Brazilians have ever led the side, and they coached just seven games in Ramon Platero was the first in 1925 and managed four games, Joreca from Portugal managed two games in 1944, with Argentine Filpo Nunez the last foreign appointment, managing a single game in has been a similar story in Brazil's domestic league, Serie A. The sense had always been that only a Brazilian could truly understand what it means to play football culture changed soon after Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, who was linked in recent reports, external as another candidate for the Brazil job, took over in 2019 at arrival initially came amid doubts that a pragmatic European system could bring went on to lead Flamengo to the league title as well as the Copa Libertadores, with the Rio de Janeiro club experiencing one of their most successful seasons ever. His team won 43 of their 57 games before Jesus left in July then there has been a domestic shift and acceptance of foreign coaching in the country - and this is now translating to the international stage."This is an important wall coming down," Vickery told BBC Sport."Especially as it now seems that Ancelotti wants to do the job from Europe which is going to be very controversial."Ancelotti will be the first true European titan at the helm, with a decorated trophy cabinet that includes five Champions League titles and domestic trophy success in Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany. What does Ancelotti bring? One of Ancelotti's greatest strengths lies in his ability to steady teams without drama. His famously calm demeanour, often typified by little more than a raised eyebrow in the heat of a big moment, has helped some of the world's most powerful dressing rooms find stability."Ancelotti was the main choice because he has an unrivalled tradition of success," said the 2024-25 season at Real Madrid has proved tricky, with his team losing to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final and being knocked out in the Champions League quarter-finals by Arsenal, past achievements count for a lot with cultivated an elite culture and mindset throughout his time in the Spanish capital. For evidence of this we need look no further than Real's stunning run to the 2022 Champions League title under victories from what seemed impossible positions against Chelsea and Manchester City were followed by a 1-0 victory against Liverpool in the Real team benefited from the coach's tactical expertise but also performed with exceptional emotional a collective temperament could lift a Brazil side who have often fallen short in the face of expectation and pressure. 'The prince who never became king' - Neymar returns to SantosI came from Brazil, pressure is normal for us - Joao PedroCritics 'continue to try to cancel me' - Vinicius Jr Brazilian football has long wrestled between two systems: the flair of a samba style and the pragmatism needed to win at the highest gift lies in having blended these identities throughout his AC Milan teams of the early 2000s included such luminaries as Paolo Maldini, Andrea Pirlo and Kaka. They played a controlled, elegant brand of football that was defensively resilient yet could be breathtaking when going applied much the same approach during his second stint at Madrid, which began in June was structure without suffocation, allowing Brazilian talents like Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo to express themselves while maintaining discipline."Vinicius Jr absolutely loves working with him. He will be delighted with this appointment," said Vickery."It's not just him though. You could also see a return for Manchester United midfielder Casemiro to shore up their midfield - which has been one of the main positions of concern." Forwards Vinicius and Rodrygo have been crucial to Real and Ancelotti's most recent in particular, has seen his club career take off. Despite dazzling on domestic duty in Spain, though, his performances for Brazil have often been underwhelming and his record shows a modest six goals from 39 argue, external he struggles with the different tactical set-ups, but Ancelotti knows how to get the best out of him – simplifying his role, boosting his confidence, and providing freedom within a structured system."Ancelotti will act as a lightning rod for any criticism that side get - which will take the pressure off the players," said Vickery."There will be some in the coaching fraternity in Brazil who want him to fail, but the people who are least affected are the players."Make no mistake: appointing Ancelotti is a seismic move for Brazil, a statement that they are willing to change to regain their place at football's Ancelotti can bring his brand of stability to the group, while unleashing players like Vinicius Jr, and perhaps even coaxing one last magical tournament from Neymar, he may just be the man to lead Brazil back to in doing so, he may not just fix Brazil; he could redefine what Brazilian football means in the modern era.
