Ancelotti launches Brazil reboot in Townsville as Raphinha named to start Australia friendly

Brazil touch down in rugby league heartland

Brazil landed in Townsville on Thursday for the start of a reboot under Carlo Ancelotti, beginning his first full World Cup cycle in a city that has never hosted an Australia A international.

The five-time world champions arrived in a region better known for North Queensland rugby league than football. Hotels across the town are booked out and a street party on Friday afternoon is planned with Brazilian jiu-jitsu and capoeira demonstrations, a Brazilian band and line dancing.

Ancelotti is staying just a ten-minute walk from the Mad Cow Tavern on Flinders Street as Brazil prepare for games in Townsville and Brisbane against a Socceroos side led by Tony Popovic. The two coaches are long-time acquaintances.

"We are good friends," Ancelotti said. "Sometimes we have the possibility to meet to talk about football. We spent time together when I was in Milan, we spent time together in Brisbane two nights ago. It’s a pleasure to talk about football [with Popovic]. He’s doing a fantastic job here. A really passionate manager. I hope the best for him. I think the World Cup he had was a really good World Cup. The team showed strong quality, a compact team."

Strong XI named for Townsville opener

Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Barcelona star Raphinha will start Friday’s friendly against Australia in Townsville. The lineup named at a pre-game press conference is:

Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Marquinhos, Vitor Reis and Douglas Santos; Danilo and Bruno Guimarães; Estevão, Raphinha, Endrick and Vinícius Júnior.

Ancelotti explained the decision to go with a strong side: "For us, the important thing is to play well, to start winning games. The truth is that these games can be an opportunity for some. I believe we have a base and we have to continue with it, of players who played in the World Cup, who can help in the progression of our young players that we have here."

He also addressed the form of Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha, who have had different starts to the new La Liga campaign.

"The two are in different situations right now. Obviously, Raphinha is doing spectacular things in a position that wasn’t his before, but it seems like it is now too," Ancelotti said. "Vini… he might not be at his best right now, but we are confident that both of them will be fundamental for the future."

Inflection point after World Cup exit

The Queensland games mark Brazil’s first since their last-16 defeat to Norway at the World Cup, their earliest elimination since 1990. By 2030 it will be 28 years since their 2002 triumph, their longest drought since their first World Cup win in 1958.

Ancelotti is clear that the fixtures are not mere friendlies.

"It’s difficult to say it’s a friendly. For Brazil, it will never be a friendly game. It will be an important game. A new season, we have a goal to find new players, to find a new generation of players for the World Cup and Copa America. And we start in the game tomorrow."

Brazil will then play Australia again before jetting off to India for a third friendly on 3 October. The Sunshine State visit was secured by the Queensland government as part of its major events strategy, with the state’s minister for tourism Andrew Powell highlighting the games in the squad announcement.