2026 World Cup: Daniele Adani slams Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil: “Not much football”

Brazil’s World Cup debut failed to impress Daniele Adani, who, following Carlo Ancelotti’s team’s draw against Morocco, commented on the Seleção’s performance to Rai Sport: “Individual plays solved the problems. Brazil showed little in the way of football and was very often put under pressure by Morocco, who played as a unit.”

“It’s clear that Morocco made a brilliant play on the goal, but that’s not all—Morocco was so much more. They gave me the impression of being a mature, self-aware, and improving team.”

“Brazil, on the other hand, seemed to me to lack cohesion; there was little movement, few combinations, and they were saved by the individual play (Vinicius, ed.) that distinguishes Brazilian talent. But Brazil needs to do more as a team. Ancelotti’s new formation—with four defenders, two midfielders, and four attacking players—did little to help and showed little teamwork. Morocco’s midfield had the upper hand in both phases almost all the time.”

Ancelotti, criticized in Brazil after the Seleção’s debut, spoke of debut jitters: “The first half wasn’t positive; there was a bit of anxiety, yes. They broke out of our pressure and launched dangerous counterattacks. We should have controlled things better. I can say I’m not satisfied with the result. We need to work to improve, but that’s normal. Morocco played well, showed great organization, and was a very difficult opponent, but you don’t win the World Cup in the first game.”