Eleven names. One dressing room to rebuild
Noon in France. Brazil are back in action against Australia in a friendly that matters more than it looks. Carlo Ancelotti’s first real job since the World Cup. Seventeen players left out. Ten domestic picks called up. Eight fresh faces in the squad. The Selecao are changing shape, slowly, but they are changing.
Up front, there’s plenty to like. Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Estevao, Endrick. Four attacking players in from the start. A line-up built with Europe in mind, full of players who are used to the pace and pressure of elite club football.
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The Estevao-Endrick paradox
Both start on Friday. Neither is a regular starter at club level. Estevao has made seven appearances this season. Endrick has just the one. Two players trusted by Brazil and struggling for minutes at their clubs. It’s an awkward gap, but hardly a shock: for plenty of young talents, the national team is where confidence comes back quicker than anywhere else.
The full line-up sets the tone: Hugo Souza in goal, Douglas Santos, Vitor Reis, Marquinhos and Matheuzinho in defence, Bruno Guimaraes and Danilo in midfield, then the four attackers already mentioned. A side mixing senior heads with a few bets for the future.
A first test, then another to come
This is only one step. Another friendly against Australia follows four days later, with Ancelotti likely to shuffle the deck again. The Italian is patiently building his post-World Cup Brazil, balancing familiar names with young prospects who need to be judged in the flesh.
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