Ancelotti Guides Brazil Roster Toward Morocco Opener at MetLife
Brazil roster talk is centered on Carlo Ancelotti’s first World Cup game in charge, with Morocco waiting Saturday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Brazil is still chasing its first World Cup success in 24 years, and the opening match gives Ancelotti an immediate test against a disciplined opponent on a major stage.
Paul Clement, one of Ancelotti’s assistants, described the mood around the squad as “obviously Brazilian” and said the environment is “a very religious and very spiritual atmosphere.”
Paul Clement on Brazil’s group
Clement said the team’s pregame routine includes prayer before and after matches, with “a few words from the captain or senior player, or the head coach or the director of the federation” before the prayers. He said that sequence “brings a lot of togetherness and camaraderie,” a detail that shows how tightly the group is being managed before a tournament opener where rhythm and unity matter as much as form.
He also laid out the spine of the side: Alisson in goal, Marquinhos and Gabriel in central defence, and Casemiro in midfield. Around that core, Brazil has Raphinha, Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Martinelli and Matheus Cunha in attacking positions, plus Neymar in the squad after his recall last month.
Neymar and Brazil leadership
Neymar is 34 years old and was called in by Ancelotti almost three years after winning the most recent of his 128 caps. He has been battling a calf injury, which makes his place in the squad a notable call for a team leaning on experience as much as pace.
Clement said, “What I love about this team is that they’ve got a really good leadership group, with characters like Marquinhos, Alisson, Casemiro.” He added that Brazil’s attacking edge sits with “Raphinha, Vinicius Junior, (Gabriel) Martinelli, Matheus Cunha, some fabulous younger players and, obviously, Neymar.”
Ancelotti’s dressing room test
The assistant described Ancelotti as “always a great fit for a big team; big dressing room, big characters, big personalities,” adding that he “thrives in that type of environment.” That is the job in front of him at MetLife Stadium: manage a squad built for pressure, keep the leadership group aligned, and start a World Cup campaign that carries the weight of a 24-year wait.
Saturday’s opener against Morocco will show how quickly Brazil can turn that mix of senior figures, attacking talent and spiritual routine into points on the board in East Rutherford.
