Neymar Chants Echo as Ancelotti's Brazil Honeymoon Sours in Friendly Flop
Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil tenure hit a bump in a 2-1 friendly loss to France, sparked by early Neymar chants after his squad omission. Amid a chaotic history of caretaker coaches like Diniz and Dorival Jr, the match exposed defensive frailties and a lacklustre first half until France's red card. Ancelotti remains optimistic for the 2026 World Cup, but squad issues at full-back and beyond raise doubts.
Picture this: a packed Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, France racing to a 2-0 lead courtesy of Hugo Ekitike, and the crowd already serenading Neymar. Ouch. For Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil's new gaffer, it was the ultimate pub pint-spiller – the exact taunt he'd dreaded after binning the Selecao's record goalscorer from his squad.
As reported by Susy Campanale at Football Italia, the Italian's arrival was meant to be Brazilian football's white knight moment. But this 2-1 friendly defeat smacked of deeper troubles.
The CBF's Coach Carousel of Chaos
Let's rewind. Back in May 2025, the Brazilian Football Confederation finally lured Ancelotti from his Real Madrid throne. CBF boss Ednaldo Rodrigues puffed it up as the merger of 'history's greatest coach' and 'the planet's greatest team'. Bold claims, mate.
Reality? A proper dog's breakfast. Post-2022 World Cup quarter-final exit under Tite, the CBF played musical chairs with managers. Unqualified Ramon Menezes as caretaker? Bizarre. Then Fernando Diniz, fresh off miracles at Fluminense, got the gig – but his arty-farty tactics needed weeks to bed in, and internationals give you bugger all time. Sacked mid-contract.
Enter Dorival Jr, the 'safe hands' from Flamengo. Nope. A 4-1 qualifying thrashing by Argentina at home sealed his fate, after a Copa America quarter-final flop against Uruguay. By then, Brazil were a shambles: election scandals, Ronaldinho quitting as a fan in a viral rant calling the squad 'average players with no leaders'. Grim.
Ancelotti's 2026 arrival felt like manna. Yet here we are, chants mocking his Neymar snub dominating the chat.
France Friendly: Red Card Reality Check
Ancelotti was fuming post-match. 'Talk about the lads who showed up,' he snapped, dismissing the Neymar noise. Fair play, but eyebrows shot up when he called himself 'satisfied'. 'We can compete with the best,' he reckoned, praising Brazil's late push against a time-wasting France.
Here's the rub: Les Bleus went down to 10 men after Dayot Upamecano's 55th-minute red. Before that? Brazil had 35.4% possession, zero shots on target. They nicked a late consolation for 2-1, but it was damage limitation, not domination. Convinced of World Cup glory? Pull the other one.
Ancelotti's remit runs to the 2026 World Cup, with talk of extension. But with results like this, he might not last as long as the CBF's two-year pursuit.
Squad Shortages: Full-Backs Famine and Midfield Maybes
Talent pool problems are glaring. Once, Brazil flaunted Roberto Carlos and Cafu together at full-back. Now? Shockingly threadbare. Wesley's injury for the Croatia friendly leaves no proper right-back, so expect Danilo the versatile centre-half to improvise.
Midfield offers hope. Casemiro's recall looks smart – the old warhorse steadied things. Up top, without Neymar, it's Ekitike who stung them, but Brazil's attack lacked bite.
Ancelotti's won it all at AC Milan and Real Madrid, four Champions Leagues no less. Can he spark the Selecao? Early days, but this French farce whispers 'talent must not be wasted'. Pour another round – Brazil's reset button needs mashing.