Few Brazilians are better placed than Ze Roberto to assess impact since he was appointed Brazil head coach. The former box-to-box engine played for 14 seasons in Europe – 12 of them in the German Bundesliga – featured at two editions of the and won titles on three continents.
The former left-flank marauder believes that the Italian tactician could be greatest asset at the . According to the former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid man, Ancelotti’s arrival will bring about a shift in mindset for a Seleção side who, despite not being among the favourites, are dreaming of adding a record-extending sixth star to their crest 24 years on from their fifth title.
“Brazil are going into a World Cup as never before: with a foreign coach at the helm,” Ze Roberto told FIFA. “So much has changed over the last few decades, but the biggest shift, in my view, has been in mentality.”
In Ze Roberto’s eyes, gives Brazil the stability they had been lacking – and a platform to rebuild their confidence and identity.
“Bringing in Ancelotti was unquestionably the best decision that the Brazilian FA has made in recent years,” he commented. “The modern game demands an understanding that goes beyond talent alone – something that I ascertained first-hand in Europe. When coaches are constantly changing, the squad becomes unstable.”
Ze Roberto expects Brazil to come into their own when it matters most: during the knockout stage. “There is very little margin for error at the World Cup,” he said. “Mental preparation and strategy are every bit as important as technique. Brazil may not arrive as favourites, but Ancelotti changes the equation.
“As the Seleção progress through the knockout stage, his leadership will give them a huge lift in their quest to become six-time champions.”
Even so, the former wide man was under no illusions about the strength of the competition, naming the teams that he believes pose the greatest threat to Brazil’s ambitions. “Argentina, France and Spain are the three favourites for me,” he said. “But Brazil have the best coach at the tournament.”
Two decades on from his final World Cup, Ze Roberto can now look back with a sense of clarity on the various chapters of his career in Canarinha colours. In 1998, he was part of the side that finished runners-up in France under Mario Zagallo, though Roberto Carlos was ahead of him in the pecking order. In 2002, he was dealt a painful blow, missing out on the squad that would go on to win Brazil’s fifth title at the global showpiece.
Then came the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany – his second home – where Ze Roberto excelled in a side featuring the magical quartet of Kaka, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Adriano, becoming the only Brazilian to be named in the All-Star Team for that edition of the tournament. Yet even that Brazil side, despite all its attacking talent, exited in the quarter-finals after a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the French.
“A lot has changed over the past 20 years, particularly when it comes to the transition between generations,” he recalled. “It’s difficult to imagine another Brazil squad brimming with that much talent. The 2006 team had so many players who were already among the world’s best, or being tipped to reach the elite level of the game.”
The campaigns that followed only reinforced how rare it had been to produce such a crop of stars in the same generation. Without the same wealth of world-class talent, Brazil had to rethink their approach.
The deeper disconnect between supporters and the Canarinha, however, can be attributed to another defining tournament. The 7-1 defeat by Germany on home soil in 2014 opened a wound that would take years to heal.
“That was when the supporters became completely disenchanted and the bond with the team began to fade – along with the passion and dream of seeing Brazil become world champions again,” said Ze Roberto. “But the game has evolved – it has become much more physical and tactical. This is the perfect moment for a new mindset that can restore our supporters’ pride in the national team.”
Yet with Ancelotti in the fold, Ze Roberto's wish of Brazil brimming with belief could become a reality again.
Sources: FIFA Official
