Carlo Ancelotti conceded Brazils 6-2 hammering of Panama gave him more questions than answers just 10 days from the start of the World Cup.Ancelotti and his players fly to the United States today to continue their preparations after a victory at the Maracana that saw Ancelotti make 10 changes at half-time as he attempts to find a formula that he hopes will succeed when the global showpiece gets underway.The win over Panama, who will face England in Group L, saw Vinicius Jr, Casemiro, Rayan, Lucas Paqueta, Igor Thiago and Danilo all get on the scoresheet but Ancelotti was not satisfied.He told Lance: It crosses my mind to change the team, the strategy. The second half gave me more doubts. But for me, its good to have positive doubts. [The team] is 100% not defined, obviously not.Brazil were without several players from Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal due to the Champions League final.Ancelotti added: We didnt have Marquinhos, Gabriel or Gabriel Martinelli but I still think I have a good squad. The game showed us we have players with better physical conditions than others. In the end, lets make the right decision. The question is to try to choose the best line-up for the first game. The certainty is that we have a very strong team.Table of ContentsAncelotti happy with Brazil squad depthVinicius hails Brazil idol NeymarAncelotti happy with Brazil squad depthAlthough the starting XI was arguably closer to the team Ancelotti will field against Morocco on June 13, he was particularly pleased with the efforts of those that came on at the break.The players in the first half are stronger, they press a lot, he said. A high press is an aspect we wanted to do in the first half. When the pressure doesnt come out, its very important to come back quickly, but I think the team wasnt very compact. Its a theme we have to improve, because defensive solidity is very important, and the low block allows us to play more in counterattacks.The performance in the second half was important for the team, for the players who entered, they showed quality. They could compete like everyone else on the list. We have to take into account the rival, who slowed down, lost intensity. The first half was different, but with things we have to improve.Brazil have another friendly before the action gets underway for real, against Egypt on Saturday.Vinicius hails Brazil idol NeymarNeymar will again be sidelined with a calf problem although Ancelotti has dismissed the idea of replacing the Santos forward in the squad.And Vinicius Jr revealed the countrys all-time record goalscorer was making a positive impression on the other players.The Real Madrid star told SporTV: Ney is our idol. Everyone is very happy to be able to play with him. Its a very young generation, which had Neymar as the greatest idol. Being able to share everyday life with Ney is always good. He fought a lot to be able to play with us again. He returned to play in Brazil, along with our people, to be able to be closer to all of them. Topics Brazil National Football Team Carlo Ancelotti Panama National Football Team Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Carlo Ancelotti delivers definitive update on Neymars World Cup injury status: To be clear, Neymar will be with us Tom Rostance 30th May, 2026 Brazil v Panama: Line-ups, stats and preview for Selecaos Maracana send-off Nicholas McGee 30th May, 2026 BREAKING: Brazil star Neymar could be forced out of World Cup due to calf injury Jon Fisher 28th May, 2026 Vinicius Jr: Neymar deserves Last Dance at 2026 World Cup Jon Fisher 27th May, 2026 Neymar cried for hours after receiving Brazil World Cup call Mitch Fretton 20th May, 2026 Ancelotti lays down the law: The three conditions Neymar had to agree to before returning to the Brazil squad Jon Fisher 20th May, 2026
