Brazil: Ancelotti’s changes from debut to second 2026 match | OneFootball

Between the draw that felt like a defeat against Morocco and the emphatic win over Haiti, Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti changed. It was not a complete overhaul, but the targeted adjustments made by the Italian coach largely explain the national team’s improvement between the first and second rounds of the 2026 World Cup.

The three changes in Brazil

Ancelotti made three changes to the starting lineup for the clash with Haiti:

+ Who is Nelson Deossa, the Colombian midfielder who could strengthen Vasco

Before the match, Ancelotti even considered a third change, with Fabinho possibly coming in for Casemiro and Luiz Henrique replacing Paquetá — which would have brought back the 4-2-4, the coach’s preferred system since taking over the national team. In practice, however, the team took the field with only the two changes, keeping the 4-3-3 tested in the opener.

The formation change: from 4-2-4 to 4-3-3

One of the most relevant adjustments was tactical. Ancelotti set aside the 4-2-4 used at several points in preparation and kept the 4-3-3 — a shape that gave the team more balance, with Vini Jr wide on the left, Raphinha on the right, and Matheus Cunha free to move through the middle.

This structure allowed for greater attacking fluidity without sacrificing defensive solidity, in contrast to the first performance, when Brazil struggled to find itself on the field, especially in the first half — Ancelotti himself publicly acknowledged that the team did not have a good opening half against the Moroccans.

The result on the field

The change showed up in the numbers: against Haiti, Brazil won 3-0, with standout performances from Vini Jr and Matheus Cunha, who were directly involved in the goal-scoring plays. Vini Jr even got on the scoresheet himself after receiving a pass from Paquetá and finishing past the Haitian goalkeeper.

Rayan’s introduction and the Endrick chapter

The second half also brought a symbolic new development: Rayan made his World Cup debut, coming on for Raphinha, who felt pain and left the field shortly afterward. With the change, Ancelotti was able to replace an attacking piece without needing to alter the tactical setup.

As for Endrick, the name most demanded by the fans after the subdued opener against Morocco, he once again started on the bench. Even so, he had a notable moment: in the 32nd minute of the second half, he received an assist from Rayan after a move started by Casemiro and scored — a goal that was ultimately ruled out for offside. Ancelotti again called for patience with the young striker, saying he intends to use him “at the right moment.”

What these changes signal

More than the result itself, the adjustments show an Ancelotti willing to fine-tune the team from match to match without abandoning the backbone of the side. Keeping the 4-3-3, betting on Matheus Cunha as a more mobile attacking option, and bringing in Rayan point to a coach testing solutions while still keeping trump cards — such as Endrick — in reserve for the moment he himself considers ideal.

+ Follow Papo na Colina on social media: Thread, Bluesky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok and Google News.

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