World Cup qualifiers - Ancelotti missed his chance in his debut, Brazil 0-0 Ecuador!

In the early morning of June 6, 2025, at Calvo Memorial Stadium in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Ancelotti's debut in coaching the Brazilian national team ended with a 0-0 draw. Despite having a 54% possession rate and having a field advantage, Samba Legion only made three shots in the game, and the core Vinicius's single shot in the 22nd minute was shot as the only highlight moment. This draw not only exposed the team's fatal shortcomings in offensive efficiency, but also made Brazil temporarily ranked fourth in South America with 22 points, and the situation of qualifying was suddenly severe.

1. The front line was silent: waste of opportunities and tactical dilemma

In the 22nd minute of the game, Gerson sent out an accurate pass, and Vinicius successfully formed a single shot against the offside. Real Madrid winger made a slight adjustment and chose to shoot low in the lower right corner, but Ecuadorian goalkeeper Galindes blocked the goal with his leg. This missed the microcosm of the game - Brazil only had 3 shots in the whole game, including Vinicius wasted 3 excellent opportunities, Richarlison failed to play in the 53rd minute when facing the inverted triangle pass, and Casemiro's push shot in the 76th minute missed the goal, and the offensive inefficiency was shocking.

Ancelotti's tactical adjustment failed to bring the expected results. He gave up the traditional three-forward system and changed to a 4-3-3 formation, trying to strengthen the penetration of the middle lane through the combination of Vinicius and Richarlison's double striker, but Richarlison's role as a fulcrum was almost zero, with only 6 successful 9 passes in the game, with a confrontation success rate of less than 40%. On the flank side, Estewan and Alex Sandro's cross success rate was only 21%, far lower than Ecuador's 35%, and the tactics of the combination of sides and middle are completely ineffective. What is even more puzzling is that An Shuai did not replace Cunya and Martinelli until the 64th minute. At this time, the team's physical fitness had dropped significantly and the substitution failed to change the situation.

2. Midfield loss: lack of control and lack of creativity

The weakness of Brazil's midfield is the key to offensive paralysis. Although Casemiro completed the most eight long passes in the game, his offensive participation was extremely low, and he touched the ball in the opponent's penalty area only once. The missed empty goal shot in the 76th minute exposed his deficit in the final ability. Although Guimaraes contributed 5 steals, his forward pass success rate was only 54%, and he made many blind long pass mistakes, making it difficult to organize an effective attack. Gerson's performance as a technical core was disappointing. He only successfully passed the ball into the third zone of the offensive with only three successful passes, making it difficult to connect the center and frontcourt.

In contrast, Ecuadorian midfielder Kesédo showed world-class standards. He completed 5 steals and 3 interceptions, directly disintegrating the Brazilian team's multiple offensive launches, and at the same time, he instigated counterattacks through precise long passes, becoming the team's hub for offense and defense conversion. This gap in midfield control makes it difficult for Brazil to turn its advantage into a threat despite having the advantage of ball control.

3. Defensive risks: Setting ball crisis and goalkeeper disputes

Alisson contributed 4 saves to protect the city, the Brazilian defense has experienced many dangerous situations in set ball defense. Ecuador scored seven corner kicks in the whole game, Zamora's header missed in the 38th minute, and Estupinien's long shot in the 77th minute was resolved by Allison's divine pounce, revealing the defensive loopholes in the defense line at the high altitude and the arc top area of ​​the penalty area. Data shows that the Brazilian team's clearance rate in this game is only 68%, lower than Ecuador's 75%, and the central defender combination Marginhos and Wanderson's air defense advantages have not been fully utilized. The controversy over the position of the goalkeeper also exists. Allison had a thrilling moment when he caught the ball and lost his hand in the first half. His position was slightly conservative when facing Ye Boya's long shot and failed to fully cover the near-angle area. Substitute goalkeeper Weverton performed mediocrely in the qualifiers, and Brazil's goalkeeper reserve has become a potential hidden danger.

4. Historical dilemma: Samba football's transformation pain

This draw reflects the deep crisis of Brazil's football. Since the Tit era, the disadvantages of the team's excessive reliance on personal abilities have become increasingly obvious. The midfield lacks real organizers, and the front line efficiency continues to decline. Data shows that Vinicius and Rodrigo only scored 6 goals in 38 games in the national team, and were ridiculed as "lack of Samba's soul." What's even more serious is that the U23 National Olympic Team even missed the Paris Olympics, and the problem of youth training gaps is becoming increasingly prominent.

Ancelotti's coaching debut failed to bring about change. Although he was known for his tactical flexibility during Real Madrid, the structural problems of Brazil's lack of top midfield organizers and strong terminators were difficult to solve in the short term. After the game, he expressed satisfaction with the draw, believing that the team has made improvements in ball possession and fluency, but admitted that the offensive end still needs improvement. Casemiro defended the coach, mentioning that there was insufficient training time and that tactical ideas have not been fully conveyed.

5. Future challenges: Qualifying situation and road to reconstruction

After this game, Brazil ranked fourth in South America with 22 points, 12 points behind Argentina, which was the top. The qualifying situation is not optimistic. In the subsequent schedule, they will face Paraguay, Chile and Bolivia. Although their opponents are relatively weak, it will be difficult to ensure victory without improving their offensive efficiency. What is even more worrying is that the team's locker room has cracks due to problems such as the training dispute between Vinicius and Casemiro, and Ancelotti's locker room management ability will face severe tests.

As Global Sports said: "Ancelotti's Brazilian debut was a failed experiment." This draw not only exposed the collapse of the tactical system, but also indicates the long road to Samba's football revival. If we want to return to the top, Brazil needs to carry out systematic reforms in the youth training system, tactical innovation and locker room cohesion. When the final whistle sounded, Marginhos' helpless sigh and Vinicius's contemplation became a microcosm of the pain of Brazil's football transformation.