Waiting for Ancelotti, Brazil loses to Senegal in the upset – 06/20/2023 – Sport

Historically, the Brazilian team has a largely favorable record against African teams, but this has not been confirmed in the cycle that started after the last World Cup, in Qatar.

In three matches, Brazil won just one, against modest Guinea, 79th in the Fifa (International Football Federation) ranking, and accumulated two defeats, against Morocco and, this Tuesday (20th), against Senegal, from upset, by 4 to 2.

At the Alvalade stadium, in the city of Lisbon, in Portugal, the Canarinho team took the lead, with a goal by Paquetá, but suffered the turnaround. Diallo, Marquinhos (against) and Mané, twice, scored for the African team. The Brazilian defender himself tried to redeem himself later and cashed out.

The meeting was only the second between Brazilians and Senegalese. In the first, also in a friendly, the two teams drew 1-1, in 2019.

Against African teams, despite the defeat, Brazil still maintains a very favorable record, with 34 wins, two draws and four defeats.

This Tuesday’s confrontation was the last commitment of the Brazilian team before the start of the Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. In September, Brazil will face Bolivia, at home, and Peru, away.

Until then, it is expected that the name of Carlo Ancelotti, currently at Real Madrid, will be confirmed as the new coach of Brazil.

Although there is still no confirmation from the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), the entity has a verbal agreement with the Italian coach for him to take charge of the team after the end of his contract with the Spanish club, in June 2024.

Leaders linked to the president of the confederation, Ednaldo Rodrigues, admit that the scenario is not ideal since the coach would start his work after six of the 18 rounds of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, in addition to at least one more date window FIFA for friendlies, between 18 and 26 March.

Six months after falling in the quarterfinals of the last World Cup, in Qatar, against Croatia, when coach Tite left office, Brazil played three friendlies under Ramon Menezes: it lost to Morocco (2-1 ), won Guinea (4 to 1), in addition to this Wednesday’s game, against the Senegalese.

Despite managing the team during this period, it is not clear whether the caretaker will be part of the transition period until the expected arrival of Ancelotti or return to the under-20 team.

While the situation is not resolved by the CBF, friendlies like this Tuesday are important for athletes who aim to be part of the group that will be delivered to Ancelotti.

Against Senegal, Brazil started better and opened the scoring in the 10th minute with Lucas Paquetá, with a header, after assisting Vinicius Junior. The number 10 also took a penalty shortly afterwards, but the bid was canceled due to impediment at the beginning of the play.

Afterwards, however, the African team grew in the game and equaled with Diallo, who caught it beautifully after hitting inside the area, at 21.

On the way back from the break, just after six minutes, the Senegalese managed to turn the match around after Marquinhos scored against his own goal – he deflected it into the net after trying to cut Sarr’s header.

Before Brazil could recover, the Canarinho team took the third, in a beautiful finish by Mané, from the edge of the penalty area, in the ninth minute.

Only then did the Brazilian team begin to react. After scoring against, Marquinhos redeemed himself by making the team’s second, at 12. The reaction, however, stopped there. Worse, before the end, Senegal even reached the fourth goal, from the penalty spot, with Mané, in stoppage time.