Brazil must help Vinicius Jr rediscover the form he has displayed at Real Madrid, new national team coach Carlo Ancelotti said on June 4.

Ancelotti, who guided the Spanish giants to several titles alongside the Brazilian forward, including two Champions League triumphs and two La Liga crowns, said that the player’s unique ability to unsettle opposing defences made him a vital asset.

“I don’t know if he’s been at his best here, but he has time to do what he does at Real Madrid,” he said ahead of Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Ecuador on Thursday – his first match in charge of the Selecao.

“For us, he’s a fundamental player. We have to work to ensure he performs at his best here.”

Vinicius made his World Cup debut in Qatar in 2022 and has been a regular during their qualifying campaign for the 2026 tournament. However, the 24-year-old has struggled for form with the national team, falling short of his usual standards at Real.

Regarding his tactical approach, Ancelotti stated that he aims to field a compact, balanced team.

“I don’t want a team with a clear identity. We have to defend well, whether it’s 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. We have to defend together and use creativity with the ball,” the Italian said.

“Individual quality is not enough today; you have to combine it with attitude, drive and commitment.”

He did not reveal his starting line-up for his debut as coach, but Ancelotti did have words of praise for 18-year-old Estevao Willian, who is leaving Palmeiras for Chelsea and has been tipped for a bright future with the national team.

Said Ancelotti: “He’s got a special talent… he’s got character, he’s a good person, he’s humble, and he seems fine to me, but with a young player we have to be patient and careful.

“He has the characteristics to be very important for the future of the national team.”

Brazil are fourth in the standings in the South American World Cup qualifiers, while their opponents Ecuador are second, behind world champions Argentina. The top six qualify directly for the World Cup.

They will host Paraguay in Sao Paulo next week and could secure an early spot at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, meanwhile, said he had yet to decide whether captain Lionel Messi would start in their next qualifier against Chile, as he continues to closely monitor the 37-year-old’s fitness.

With their place at the Finals already secured, Argentina travel to bottom-placed Chile on June 5 without several regulars and with Messi’s role uncertain.

“We’ve been in contact (with Messi) recently. We haven’t decided yet whether he’ll play from the start or not. It would be good to know how he’s feeling physically,” Scaloni said.

“In principle, he’s available to play, and we’ll decide later.”

With a number of key players sidelined by injury or suspension, Scaloni called it a chance to test new talent ahead of their World Cup title defence next summer.

“We’re going to have a lot of players out. If some of the guys we call up are fit and ready to play, they’ll get their chance,” he said.

“I don’t have the starting eleven confirmed yet, but we will give some playing time to players who haven’t played much and who we believe are ready to play.

“Although the result is always important, we don’t think it’s crucial today. We’ll probably try to help these players settle in and give them the chance to get some playing time with the team.”

-Reuters

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Several withdrawals and injuries to some players have combined to alter the list of players who will appear for Nigeria in Friday’s international friendly match in Moscow, from the original list drawn up by Super Eagles’ Head Coach Eric Chelle.

The goalkeeping sector is unaffected as first-choice Stanley Nwabali was not listed for the trip in the first place, as a result of the upcoming burial rites for his late parents. Italy-based Maduka Okoye and Tanzania-based Amas Obasogie will still fight for the goalkeeper’s starting shirt.

In the rearguard, captain William Ekong is in Moscow alongside Bright Osayi-Samuel, joining the Unity Cup trio of Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi and Igoh Ogbu.

However, Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina excused himself from the friendly, and Coach Chelle has had to draft in the Unity Cup duo of Sodiq Ismaila and Benjamin Fredericks.

 Former junior international Fredericks impressed on his debut against Jamaica on Saturday.

In the midfield, injury to Wilfred Ndidi has handed Enugu Rangers’ ace Saviour Isaac the opportunity to shine. Isaac is a key member of the Eagles B, which will participate in the African Nations Championship finals in August.

He will join Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Christantus Uche and Papa Daniel Mustapha to fight for shirts in the middle of the pack.

At the fore, Unity Cup ace Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Iheanacho, have excused themselves to attend to family matters, while Spain-based Sadiq Umar has suffered an injury.

Nathan Tella’s United Kingdom passport is undergoing a renewal process, so he is unable to travel.

This situation has left Chelle with only Victor Boniface, Simon Moses and Tolu Arokodare in the attack, and he has had to call up Russia-based former junior international Olakunle Olusegun, who plays for Krasnodar FC.

The team, which arrived in Moscow on Monday, will begin training sessions on Tuesday.

The match will take place at the 78,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium, which is the largest football stadium in Russia and the ninth-largest in the whole of Europe.    

SUPER EAGLES FOR RUSSIA FRIENDLY:

Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars); Benjamin Fredericks (Brentford FC, England)

Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes); Saviour Isaac (Enugu Rangers)

Forwards: Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Olakunle Olusegun (Krasnodar FC, Russia)

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Jamaica twice came back from behind to level at 2-2 but eventually lost 5-4 on penalties to defending champions, Nigeria, in the Unity Cup final played at   Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium in west London on Saturday evening.

Moses Simon put Nigeria ahead after nine minutes. But the Jamaicans responded with Kaheim Dixon three minutes later.

The first half ended 1-1. Samuel Chukwueze restored Nigeria’s lead in the 53rd minute. Again, Jamaica responded and levelled up in the 63rd minute through Jonathan Russell.

With scores at 2-2 at regulation time, Nigeria beat Jamaica 5-4 on penalties to retain the trophy they won in the last edition 21 years ago. At the time, Nigeria had beaten Jamaica 2-0.

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