How Brazil Outplayed Paraguay with Ancelotti's Tactics: Pressing, Crosses & Chaos
Ancelotti’s Midfield Mousetrap
When your midfield trio (Casemiro + two traffic cones) can’t control possession like Spain or Portugal, you do what any pragmatic Italian would—avoid the middle entirely. Brazil’s 1-0 win over Paraguay was a masterclass in targeted dysfunction: press high to force turnovers, then unleash Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha toward the byline like rabid greyhounds chasing mechanical rabbits. Our tracking data shows 73% of attacks developed on the left flank, where Vinícius attempted more dribbles (9) than the entire Paraguayan team combined.
The Cross Paradox
Yes, 14 of Brazil’s 18 shots came from crosses. No, this wasn’t ‘Route One’ football—these were calculated overloads. Notice how Ancelotti stationed Martinelli AND Vinícius wide left simultaneously? That forced Paraguay’s right-back to choose between:
- Getting skinned alive by Vinícius’ stepovers
- Letting Martinelli deliver unchecked crosses to a box packed with 3 Brazilian runners (see Fig.1).
The xG breakdown reveals comedy gold: three point-blank headers missed from under 6 yards. If this were a finishing drill, someone would’ve been made to run laps until sunrise.
Pressing Triggers & Near-Disasters
Ancelotti’s secret weapon? Rafinha’s GPS data showing 7.8km covered—with 32 high-intensity sprints. His kamikaze pressing (see 14th minute turnover leading to Vinícius’ goal) compensated for Casemiro’s declining mobility. But let’s not ignore the heart-attack moments:
- Sandro’s 59th-minute hospital pass that nearly gifted Paraguay an equalizer (0.67xG chance)
- Those terrifying sequences where Brazil’s center-backs passed like they owed money to the opposition strikers
This is tournament football in its rawest form—controlled chaos where the best tactic is having faster, angrier wingers than your opponent. Now imagine adding a fit Rodrygo to this madness. God help CONMEBOL defenders.
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When Your Midfield is Just Traffic Cones
Ancelotti saw Brazil’s midfield (Casemiro + two pylons) and said ‘Fine, we’ll just avoid it entirely!’ The 73% left-flank attacks weren’t lack of creativity - it was targeted chaos. Vinícius’ dribbles (9!) versus Paraguay’s entire team? That’s not football, that’s bullying.
The Cross-and-Pray Paradox
14 crosses leading to shots sounds like 1980s Wimbledon… until you see Martinelli and Vinícius doubling up like rabid wingers. Paraguay’s right-back had two options: get humiliated or let crosses rain. He chose both.
Pro tip: When your xG includes THREE missed sitters from 6 yards, maybe skip finishing drills and go straight to the running track lads.
P.S. That hospital pass at 59’ nearly gave me actual heart palpitations. More proof that Brazil’s defense plays like they’ve got bets on the opposition!
Ancelotti hizo trampa… ¡y nos encanta!
Cuando tu mediocampo parece dos conos de tráfico y Casemiro, la solución es simple: evita el centro como si fuera la factura del gas. Brasil demostró que el fútbol no necesita lógica, solo tener a Vinícius corriendo como si le persiguiera un toro en San Fermín.
Los números no mienten (pero los delanteros sí)
73% de ataques por la izquierda, 14 centros de 18 disparos… y tres cabezazos fallados a 5 metros. Hasta mi abuela hubiera marcado uno, ¡y juega con chanclas!
¿Pressing o ataque al corazón?
Entre pases que parecían de WhatsApp y defensores que jugaban a la ruleta rusa, Rafinha corrió lo suficiente como para ganar una maratón. Menos mal que los paraguayos tenían más miedo que un árbitro en el Bernabéu.
¿Vosotros creéis que Rodrygo podrá aguantar este circo? ¡Comentad abajo!
El mousetrap de Ancelotti funcionó… medio roto
Brasil evitó el mediocampo como si fuera un campo minado y optó por el caos controlado: presión alta y correr como locos por las bandas. Vinícius hizo más regates que todo Paraguay junto (9 vs. 0, vergüenza ajena).
Los centros: ¿éxito o tragedia cómica?
14 de los 18 tiros fueron centros. Tres cabezazos fallados desde 5 metros. Si esto fuera un entrenamiento, Ancelotti los hubiera hecho correr hasta el amanecer.
¿Y Casemiro?
Raphinha corrió 7.8 km para compensar que Casemiro ya no tiene la movilidad de antes. Un héroe anónimo (o un kamikaze con GPS).
Al final, ganaron por tener wingers más rápidos y menos miedosos que Paraguay. ¿Qué opinan? ¿Estrategia brillante o pura suerte?
When Tactics Mean Letting Wingers Go Wild
Brazil’s ‘avoid-the-midfield’ masterclass was like watching two rabid greyhounds (Vinícius & Raphinha) chasing UberEats drivers down the left flank. 73% attacks from one side? That’s not tactics - that’s Ancelotti playing FIFA with turbo mode ON!
The Cross-Or-Die Philosophy 14 crosses resulting in 3 missed sitters from 6 yards? My grandma finishes those while baking pão de queijo! But hey, when your midfield is Casemiro + two traffic cones, maybe chaos IS the system.
P.S. Paraguay’s right-back now needs therapy after facing Vinícius’ stepovers. #Wingertherapy
¡Ancelotti y su trampa de ratones!
Brasil ganó 1-0 a Paraguay con un plan tan italiano como la pizza: evitar el medio campo como si fuera la cuota del Netflix. Con Casemiro y dos ‘conos de tráfico’ en el centro, mejor mandar a Vinícius y Raphinha por la banda como si les persiguiera un perro rabioso.
El Cross Paradox 14 de los 18 tiros fueron centros… pero no era fútbol antiguo, era cálculo puro. ¿Opción para el lateral paraguayo? Que te humille Vinícius o dejar que Martinelli centre libre. ¡Trampa mortal!
¿Y los goles? Tres cabezazos fallados desde 5 metros. Si esto fuera un entrenamiento, los delanteros estarían corriendo hasta el amanecer.
¡Ríndanse CONMEBOL, que viene Rodrygo! ¿Qué opinan, se viene otra goleada?
When Wingers Do All the Work
Ancelotti’s masterplan: avoid midfield entirely and let Vinícius & Raphinha run riot. Our data shows Brazil’s left flank accounted for 73% of attacks - basically FIFA street football with professional athletes.
The Cross-and-Pray Strategy 14 crosses, 3 missed sitters from 6 yards out. At this point Paraguay’s defenders were just grateful Brazil didn’t bring Rodrygo to this madness.
Fun fact: Vinícius attempted more dribbles (9) than Paraguay’s entire team. That’s not tactics, that’s bullying. CONMEBOL should investigate.
Winged Warriors & Cross-Fire Chaos
Ancelotti’s Brazil didn’t just beat Paraguay—they turned them into a makeshift training cone assembly line. 73% of attacks down the left? That’s not tactics; that’s Vinícius Jr. with a vendetta against right-backs. And those 14 crosses? Pure calculated chaos—like throwing confetti at a bull and calling it art.
The xG Comedy Hour
Three missed headers from under 6 yards? If this were a pub league, the striker would’ve been demoted to waterboy. But hey, when your midfield is Casemiro + two traffic cones, you either cross or cry. CONMEBOL defenders, start praying now—Rodrygo’s still on the bench.
When Your Midfield is Just Traffic Cones
Ancelotti’s masterplan: avoid the midfield entirely and let Vinícius & Raphinha go full greyhound mode. 73% attacks down the left? That’s not tactics, that’s targeted chaos!
The Cross Paradox
14 shots from crosses, yet somehow three headers missed from under 6 yards. If this were a training drill, even the water boy would be doing laps.
Pro Tip: Want to beat Paraguay? Just have wingers faster than their defenders’ heart rates during those hospital passes. #DataDrivenChaos
