Energy and experience. The formula that Carlo Ancelotti has been repeated ad nauseum in the real Madrid and that now tries to transfer to the Yellowgreen. Because the coach is clear about it. Maybe more than anyone. He knows that up there he has plenty of ammunition to hurt any team in the worldbut you need to compensate in your trenches to find what your Italian heart asks for. Control in a team that likes to run and dance at speeds that are not advisable for those who do not like risk.
The last test before the ball rolls in the World Cup, held at the Huntington Bank Stadiumleft several certainties and some doubts that will continue to accompany the five-time champion during the tournament. Brazil likes to press high, bite the opponent and keep the ball as far as possible from their area. He also wants to have possession, but his real danger appears every time he accelerates. Two or three touches were enough to cause damage. Instead, when he tried to patiently move the ball from one side to the other, it was unable to decipher Egypt’s defensive framework.
Raphinha’s voracity
The pressure after losing was once again one of his greatest strengths. There emerges the figure of Raphinhaleader, reference and example for all his colleagues. One of the keys for Brazil to shorten the path to the long-awaited Hexa seems to be hidden in the Barça player’s competitive voracity.. The first blow came soon. Barely eight minutes had elapsed when Egypt made a mistake in releasing the ball. Bruno Guimarães detected the doubt, stole and defined at will to open the scoring. However, the joy was short-lived. Two minutes later, Marquinhos He made an error unbecoming of his category. He stepped back without looking, gave the ball to Ziko who did not forgive Alisson. One gift for another and everything began again.
Shortly after came the first cause for concern. Wesley He dropped to the grass and asked for a change after 17 minutes. His expression of pain and the obvious limp with which he left the field of play did not invite optimism.. Danilo, former Real Madrid player and captain, entered at the end of the match, confirming that he is going through an unexpected second youth.
Brazil continued looking for spaces. In the 25th minute came the clearest chance for Vinicius. Everything was born in a long send by the defense that Raphinha turned into an advantage after winning the duel. The ball ended up in the race of the Madrid player, who beat his marker but He met an inspired Shobeir, immune to all his threats. Few touches, ball into space and speed. A direct and devastating football when it finds meters ahead. In this context, the constant exchange of positions within the 4-4-2 complicates any rival attempt to establish references.
It was also clear that Paquetá, Ancelotti’s other test, he feels comfortable between the lines and that Raphinha is going through an extraordinary moment. The Brazilian winger left another action of pure talent. Wall in the front, two cutouts to disarm your marker and a dry shot that forced Shobeir to make a brilliant intervention. The opportunities continued to arrive, more out of insistence than elaboration. Vinicius even claimed a penalty after falling inside the area, but the referee did not point anything. The break came with the feeling that Brazil had been superior, although without the expected forcefulness. And also with Vinicius aware that it had not been his best afternoon.
Before the match, Ancelotti had made his intention clear. “I want to try Paquetá and also Igor Thiago to look for another option. The system with four players up top is quite established, but in this last test I want to try an alternative because, after this, testing becomes much more difficult.” And he complied. The coach was looking for answers for the World Cup, but ended up finding something else. Confirmation that they have in their ranks a striker with an absolute obsession with goals.
Endrick knocked on the door again.
Brazil recovered on top again, like in the first goal. Raphinha found depth on the left and filtered a pass into the heart of the area. There it appeared Endrick. The Real Madrid striker controlled the situation with the naturalness of those chosen and crossed the ball to the long post to make it 2-1. He only needed six minutes on the pitch to score. Ancelotti celebrated it with a hug and a kiss full of complicity. The gesture of a coach who enjoys watching one of his most exciting projects grow.
It was the coach himself who recommended that he look for minutes to earn a place in the squad. Now, Endrick seems determined to do more than that. You want to discuss ownership. Because in the last friendly before the World Cup, while Ancelotti tried to try new alternatives with Igor Thiagothe young forward ended up monopolizing all the spotlights. The plan was to test variants. The result was different. Endrick knocked on the door again.. And this time he did it with blows.
