Former Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo has expressed his dissatisfaction with Carlo Ancelotti’s tactical choices following Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
“Ancelotti is one of the greatest coaches in history, but he can’t close his eyes to this. He started the match with the wrong formation,” declared Melo.
The former Brazilian footballer singled out defender Ibanez as one of the main problems in the Italian coach’s scheme.
“Ibanez shouldn’t have been a starter. When he came off the field, the team’s play improved significantly. He’s a very good footballer, but he’s not a full-back. His first match in the defensive department should have been in the center of defense,” Melo added.
Brazil and Morocco share points in a real spectacle
The former Brazil international also criticized the Selecao’s overall performance, stressing that the changes made during the match did not have the desired effect.
“I didn’t like the way Brazil played. Then they tried to make some changes, but unfortunately this performance cannot be defended,” Melo concluded.
