Coaching Brazil, Ancelotti encounters a "sink pit start"

Reporter Han Bing reported that for Ancelotti, who coached the national team for the first time, the welcome he enjoyed in Brazil seemed like he was in heaven. The former Real Madrid coach arrived in Rio de Janeiro by private jet on the evening of May 25 local time. His "Brazilian life" started with a 120-square-meter diplomatic sea view suite (the room price per night is nearly 6,000 yuan). The Brazilian Football Association has equipped him with a dedicated bulletproof sedan and 24-hour personal bodyguard, as well as a luxury beach apartment in Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian Football Association even hired producers to accompany Ancelotti to Brazil from Madrid to shoot enough materials for his "first show".

Ancelotti's debut meeting on May 26 at 15:00 local time was held at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Rio de Janeiro. There are as many as 500 registered media, of which 200 are from overseas. There were more than 200 reporters on the scene, from Brazil, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United States, Japan and other countries. The old coach Scolari presented Ancelotti with a white coat from the Brazilian team, and Pereira also sent a greeting message. Two Brazilian World Cup champion coaches came out in person, and naturally hoped that Ancelotti would replicate their success. The Brazilian Football Association also played a video of "All-Stars" congratulations: Brazilian football celebrities Falcao, Zico, Rivellino, Seni, Bebeto, Kaka, as well as the five-a-side football king Falcao and "female football king" Mata, etc., all of which were the highest "polite" that Brazilian team had never had before.

But when Ancelotti enjoyed his "hell" appearance, he faced a "hell" start. As soon as he got off the plane, he experienced the cruelty and embarrassment he had never experienced before: two weeks ago, the chairman of the Brazilian Football Association, Ed Valdo, was officially announced that Ancelotti took office, was still Ed Valdo, and two weeks later, who greeted his "Party One" in Rio de Janeiro, but he was replaced by the new chairman who took office on the same day. The most important job of the 41-year-old Saud on his first day of his duties was to "pick up" Ancelotti and have dinner with the new Brazilian coach.

The signing contract was less than two weeks after debuting, and the thing Ancelotti was most worried about was still happening. The power turmoil in Brazil's Football Association will inevitably affect coaching because he is not sure whether the new chairman Saud trusts him enough like his predecessor. Edvaldo has been waiting for Italians for more than two years, and he did not give up appointing three Brazilian local transition coaches during this period. Even in the context of being dismissed by the court at any time, he raced against time to complete negotiations, signing and official announcement processes with Real Madrid and Ancelotti.

Ancelotti is not an unfair worry: since Teixeira, who has been at the helm of the Brazilian Football Association for 23 years, resigned in March 2012, the Brazilian Football Association has changed five chairmen in 13 years, from Marin, Delnero, Capocro to Ednaldo, he has stepped down for suspected corruption, sexual harassment and illegal elections. Even the new chairman Shaode had previously had a scandal of embezzling public funds, so it would probably not be smooth sailing if he had to settle down. During this period, the Brazilian team was affected by changes in the Football Association and replaced 8 coaches.

In addition to changing the "boss" when "work starts", Ancelotti also has to face the involuntary situation of the first national team roster and the "first battle is about to be a final battle".

Ancelotti has coached 34 Brazilian players. The four players on the first roster, including central defender Marcinhos, midfielder Casemiro, forward Vinicius and Richarlisson, were his favorites in the club. Due to injuries and condition, Real Madrid stars such as Militon, Rodrigo, and Enderick were all out of the election. Of course, Neymar, who had just recovered from injury, was not recruited.

This 25-man roster comes from the Brazilian Football Association, but it was confirmed by Ancelotti. As many as 9 defenders were selected, proving that Ancelotti is more inclined to be conservative and more suitable for the reality of being unbeaten in the World Cup qualifiers. With 4 rounds left in the South American World Cup qualifiers, Brazil only leads Venezuela in the 7th place playoff area by 6 points. Ancelotti's debut on June 5 was in the away game against Ecuador, currently ranked second. Brazil's last five visits to Ecuador only 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses. The only win was in September 2016 9 years ago.

Brazil must score points in the away game against Ecuador, and then on June 10 against Paraguay and September 4 against Chile are both "decisive battles" that must be won. If you don't get enough points, the last round of September 9 will challenge Bolivia at an altitude of 4,150 meters away, and Brazil's qualifying path will be more and more inauspicious.

Although Ancelotti has a one-year contract with Brazil, he also has the right to choose to qualify for about 3 years after the World Cup. But if you fail to qualify for the World Cup, you will be dismissed immediately without any suspense. Coaching the national team for the first time will become the shortest term and greatest shame in Ancelotti's coaching career. There were 4 life-and-death battles in the first three months of coaching, and what Ancelotti welcomed was definitely the "start of the sinkhole".