The wait is finally over for Carlo Ancelotti. As one of the only Italian managers to ever take the helm of the Brazilian national team, he now leads t...
The wait is finally over for Carlo Ancelotti. As one of the only Italian managers to ever take the helm of the Brazilian national team, he now leads the Seleção onto the World Cup stage against a Moroccan side bristling with ambition and, crucially, a heavy dose of Serie A know how. When the team sheets dropped earlier today, the name that jumped off the page was El Aynaoui. The Moroccan midfielder, a man who has quietly become a fulcrum for his club in Italy, gets the nod from the start. It is a selection that tells you everything about the tactical texture of this match.Ancelotti, ever the pragmatist, knows that Brazil cannot simply samba their way through a Moroccan setup that has proven its defensive resilience on the biggest stages. His line up reflects a desire for control. There is no place for flash over substance here. He has picked a side that can drop into a low block if needed but also possesses the transitional pace to punish any Moroccan overcommitment. The Serie A connections are rife. From the defensive spine built on Italian league experience to the midfield engine room where discipline and tactical flexibility are non negotiable, this is a Brazil team built to win ugly as much as they are to win pretty. Can they crack a Moroccan low block that has frustrated far more fancied sides That is the forty million dollar question.For Morocco, the inclusion of El Aynaoui is a statement of intent. They are not here to park the bus for ninety minutes. He offers them a release valve, a man who can sit deep, pick a pass, and break the first line of the Brazilian press. If his Serie A schooling teaches him to read the game at a different tempo, then Morocco have a genuine chance to frustrate Ancelotti's men and spring a trap on the counter. The pressure, let us be honest, is entirely on Brazil. A nation expects. A manager who has won it all at club level now faces the ultimate test of his man management and tactical acumen on the international stage. Expect a cagey opening, a lot of tactical fouls, and the kind of chess match that only a World Cup opener can deliver. Squeaky bum time starts now.
