By R. Alexander Núñez
Brazil closed its immediate preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a victory for 2-1 over Egypt in Cleveland, a match that left the coach satisfied Carlo Ancelotti and reinforced his confidence in several of the figures who will lead the Canarinha in the tournament that will begin next week.
After the friendly, the Italian coach assured that he has already defined the starting lineup for the World Cup premiere against Morocco, scheduled for June 13 in New Jersey. Furthermore, he publicly supported Vinícius Junior, one of the main offensive references of the team.
“He is going to bring out his best version in the World Cup“said Ancelotti when evaluating the performance of the Brazilian winger. The coach especially highlighted the connection shown by Vinícius and Raphinha during the match against the African team.
The result allowed Brazil to meet its goal of reaching the World Cup with a victory, although the development of the match showed aspects that still require adjustments. The South American team controlled a large part of the actions thanks to its defensive order and the work carried out in the middle of the field, but found it difficult to transfer that control to the rival area.
Endrick responds and Brazil finds answers
For long stretches of the match, the game was characterized by physical intensity and few clear scoring opportunities. Brazil showed effective high pressing and a solid structure, while Egypt tried to take advantage of specific errors to remain competitive.
The first half goals came after defensive inattention. Bruno Guimaraes scored for Canarinha and Mostafa Ziko responded for the Egyptians, leaving the score tied before the break.
The second half presented a different scenario. Brazil completely revamped its formation and found a more dynamic version of its offensive game. That’s when Endrick showed up to make a difference.
The forward scored the winning goal with a shot inside the area after receiving an assist from Raphinha. The play was born from a recovery generated by the forward pressure of the Brazilian team, one of the aspects that worked best during the friendly.
Ancelotti also praised the young attacker after the match. “Endrick is a very powerful player, very well positioned in the area, he is a very important player for us“, he pointed out.
Not everything was positive for Brazil. The match left concern about the physical situation of the defender Wesley, who suffered a knee problem that takes him out of the World Cup.
Beyond that incident, the Italian coach conveyed calm about the team’s current state and made it clear that he has defined the path for the World Cup debut.
“I have the starting lineup against Morocco, the idea is clear,” Ancelotti said after the victory over Egypt.
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