Ancelotti interprets Brazilian team s roster adjustment: Focus on status inspection and local newcomer training

The afternoon sun is shining in Rio de Janeiro, and the lawns of the national team training base are green. On August 26, 2025, Brazilian national team coach Ancelotti accepted an exclusive interview with Brazil Global Network here, and shouts of training from the players behind him came from time to time. Facing the camera, the famous Italian coach talked about the topic of the list of stars such as Neymar, Vinicius, and Rodrigo who were not selected for the new national team, and bluntly stated that there was no need to explain the reasons specifically to the players who were not selected. As soon as these words were spoken, the South American football world immediately became lively. Now Brazil has obtained the 2026 World Cup ticket in advance. The two World Cup qualifiers against Chile at home on September 5 and the away challenge to Bolivia on September 10 have become a good opportunity for the team to concentrate on the inspection of new players.

Ancelotti was still speaking straightforwardly: "I haven't talked to them specifically, and they all know the standards for selecting national teams. " He specifically emphasized that if you can enter the national team, you must be able to play and have no physical problems. " If you really want to know the reason, you can call me directly. Rodrigo must have my number, Neymar... I'm not sure, but there should be. " When he said this, he spread his hands and shrugged, which not only revealed the cruelty of professional football, but also showed the pragmatic arrangements made by the coaching staff according to the game stage.

The roster has changed a lot this time. The 9 players in the previous issue were not selected again, 7 of which came from the European League, including Vinicius and Anthony. Ancelotti explained: "I just want to see more new players I am familiar with and find the forces that can help the national team develop in the long term." This decision is inseparable from Brazil's World Cup performance - he played in 16 rounds of World Cup qualifiers, 7 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses and scored 25 points, and is currently ranked third in South America, 3 points less than the second place. The 2022 World Cup ended in the quarterfinals and won the runner-up in the 2024 Copa America, Brazilian football really needs fresh blood.

The selection obviously tends toward the local league. This is the first time that the 19-year-old Rayan has entered the national team, and the Vascoda Gama's left-footed winger has become the focus. At 1.85 meters tall, he played 17 games in Brazil and scored 4 goals this season. In the game against Sao Paulo last month, his last-minute goal helped the team win the game, and the curved ball has been talked about by fans so far. This child is strong and has a detailed skill. He can be selected, and it can be seen that the team wants to broaden the path of talent selection. Ancelotti did not forget the players who lost the election: "Everyone worked very hard in the last training session, I have to thank everyone. "

33-year-old Neymar lost the election, mainly due to injuries. A Brazilian Globo reporter photographed him outside the training ground. He suddenly squatted down with his thighs halfway through training on Thursday. Later, he could only do some strength exercises slowly for two days, and he limped while walking. Rodrigo's situation is different. After Real Madrid's new coach Alonso took office, he averaged 16 minutes per game. He was not recruited this time and entered the adjustment period with Vinicius. Spanish Le Marca said that this is only a temporary arrangement, and it is estimated that the core European players will be back in the October World Cup.

Behind this adjustment is Ancelotti's idea of ​​arranging the players' state according to the rhythm of the game. Brazilian football wants to go to a higher level, and the champion coach has shown with practical actions: No matter how famous he is, whether he can play well is the hard truth for entering the national team. The two World Cup qualifiers in September have become a platform for testing the true abilities of newcomers in the Brazilian League. The Maracana Stadium will definitely be full of fans by then. Whether these young people can seize the opportunity depends on these two games, which can also provide reference for the 2026 World Cup lineup reserves. Ancelotti stood on the sidelines and looked at the players in training with expectation on his face.