Four goals in Kolkata, nine new faces in the squad and a manager who says he now knows far more than he did a fortnight ago. Carlo Ancelotti finished Brazil's unusually long international window the way he wanted to: satisfied, if not dazzled.
Brazil beat India 4-0 to close a trip that also included a draw and a win against Australia. For Ancelotti, the scoreline mattered less than what the trip taught him. "We leave this period with the feeling that the players will be able to do better," he said afterwards.
A stubborn start in the heat
It was not an easy afternoon, at least early on. India defended deep and Brazil struggled to open them up in the heat of Kolkata. Ancelotti admitted as much, saying the team had difficulties in opening the scoring. Once Estevao got the first goal, he said, Brazil were able to control the game much better.
Vinicius Junior started despite the humid conditions and was replaced at half-time. That gave the second half to the younger players, including Endrick, who came on for Pedro and showed flashes of his explosive potential. Ancelotti also experimented through the window, switching between three and four-man attacking lines as he looks for the right balance in his starting eleven.
Nine debutants and some early favourites
The brief for this window, and the reason the squad was rotated so heavily, was to see new players. Nine of them had never been called up to the senior team before. Ancelotti singled out Jair for defensive solidity and Breno Bidon for creativity in midfield, while saying Bontempo's first game was better than his second, and that Arthur Dias and the goalkeepers also did well.
He also raised a quiet concern. Players who do not get minutes at club level, he said, find it harder to cope in competitive games, and he named Estevao and Endrick as examples. It is a fair point from a coach who, by his own account, wants to keep the door open for those who are playing regularly while still giving fringe players a chance.
What comes next
Ancelotti said he now has a much clearer idea for the next call-up. He does not expect big changes, but he wants to see other young players who were not ready this time. The next window, in November, brings friendlies against Japan and Singapore, which should give him another chance to test what he learned in India.
Match facts: India 0-4 Brazil, international friendly, Kolkata, reported 3 October 2026. Estevao opened the scoring. Brazil's next matches: friendlies against Japan and Singapore in November. Reported by Goal.com.
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