The Brazilian coach, Carlo Ancelotti, announced on Monday the list of players for the friendly matches against France and Croatia, scheduled for March 26 and 31. This represents the last call-up before the final squad is determined for the 2026 World Cup. The physical condition of the athletes was the main criterion for the selection, as the coach himself explained, justifying the call-up with the need to have players at 100 percent due to the intensity of the upcoming commitments and the short time between them. "The explanation for the list depends a lot on injuries, obviously. It is a list created with players who are at 100% physical condition. We have important injuries, such as Militão, Bruno Guimarães, Estevão, Rodrygo, to whom we wish a speedy recovery. We will play two very important, intense matches, with a very short timeframe, including travel. So I preferred to call those who are at 100%," commented the coach. Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al Nassr), and Ederson (Fenerbahçe) Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Roger Ibañez (Al Ahli), Léo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (PSG), and Wesley (Roma) Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al Ittihad), and Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray) Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), João Pedro (Chelsea), Luiz Henrique (Zenit), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), and Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) The absence of Neymar, who was on the preliminary list, was one of the highlights, but Ancelotti did not elaborate on the topic. The Santos forward did not participate in the match against Mirassol, which the coach attended in person. The two friendly matches in March will be held in the United States: Brazil will face France on the 26th in Boston and Croatia on the 31st in Orlando. The preparation for the World Cup also includes a match against Panama at Maracanã on May 31, and a final friendly against Egypt on June 6 in Cleveland, also in the U.S., the last before the World Cup kicks off. In the 2026 World Cup, Brazil is in Group C and is set to debut on June 13 against Morocco in New Jersey. This will be followed by matches against Haiti on June 19 in Philadelphia and Scotland on June 24 in Miami, concluding the group stage.
Carlo Ancelotti The Brazilian remains central to this story.
Carlo Ancelotti The Brazilian remains central to this story.
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