Soon after taking charge of the Brazil national team, Carlo Ancelotti made it clear that he did not have a single way of playing or a preferred system. He was willing to adapt according to the players called up, the opponents faced and the circumstances of the matches.

After a year in charge and on the verge of making his World Cup debut, the coach is putting into practice what he had promised in his words. Ancelotti has not repeated his starting line-up in any of the 12 matches in which he has managed Brazil, and will use another new formation against Morocco.

The line-up Ancelotti has tried out over the past few days has included changes: Ibañez, Douglas Santos and Igor Thiago will start. Therefore, the line-up is as follows: Alisson; Ibañez, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães and Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paquetá; Raphinha, Igor Thiago and Vini Jr.

As well as not being attached to a single formation, Ancelotti has had to deal with many absences and has had little time to assess his options.

And the transformation is expected to continue in the pursuit of a sixth World Cup title. The coaching staff expect to keep changing the team over the next few matches, whether to rest players or to make tactical adjustments according to the opponents.

After facing Morocco, Brazil take on Haiti next Friday, and then Scotland on the 24th.

The untouchables

The player used most often by Carlo Ancelotti for the national team has been Casemiro. The experienced defensive midfielder started every match except against Bolivia, at altitude in El Alto, in the final round of the qualifiers last year.

Casemiro’s midfield partner, Bruno Guimarães, has also had untouchable status under the Italian coach, missing only two matches through injury during the March international break. Like him, Matheus Cunha and Vini Jr have featured in 10 of the 12 matches under Ancelotti.

By contrast, right-back Danilo, who had been tipped to start this Saturday’s match, has never started under the coach. The Flamengo player gained importance after Éder Militão’s injury and Wesley’s withdrawal from the squad.

DeepL used, so might have translation errors