Ancelotti praises Marquinhos, Rodrygo, hints at 2026 changes | OneFootball

Aiming to decide who to call up for the 2026 World Cup, coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to use the game against Bolivia to make changes in the lineup. The Italian stated that he wants to observe new players for the squad but emphasized the importance of key team members, such as Marquinhos and Rodrygo.

“Marquinhos is a great defender, one of the best in the world. He has character, personality, and is deservedly our captain for the national team. We trust him a lot, not only technically but also personality-wise. Rodrygo helped me a lot with the adaptation, he said the national team was very organized. The arrival of a young president helps us within our work environment,” said Ancelotti.

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“The field will decide who goes to the World Cup”

Following this, Ancelotti stated that his memory of players he has coached can indeed help in future call-ups, but he affirmed that he continues to observe athletes.

“Obviously memory counts, because when talking about a player like Rodrygo, I am sure of what he can contribute to the team. Now we are observing about 70 players. We are looking at technical and tactical levels to form the most competitive team possible. The truth is that the field will decide who the players for the World Cup are,” said the coach.

“The new players did very well against Chile. I didn't know Douglas Santos and he did very well. Luiz Henrique the same. Our objective was achieved and they did very well,” concluded Ancelotti.

Photo: @rafaelribeirorio I CBF

With 28 points in 17 games, Brazil is already qualified for the World Cup. Meanwhile, the Bolivians still have a chance to at least seek a playoff spot. They have 17 points in 17 rounds.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.