Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Endrick are in the 26-man Brazil squad Carlo Ancelotti named in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, 29 October, for two friendlies at the National Stadium next month: Japan on 14 November and Singapore on 17 November, as part of The Kallang’s Mizuho Blue Challenge football series. For the Lions, it means a home date with the five-time world champions, and a Brazil side still carrying stars from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Arsenal.
A young squad with familiar names on top
This is Ancelotti’s second squad since Brazil went out of the World Cup in the last 16, and the rebuild is obvious. Fifteen of the 26 are under 23. Jonathan Jesus of Cruzeiro, André Luiz of Corinthians, Allan of Manchester City and the Shakhtar Donetsk pair Marlon Gomes and Alisson Santana are in line for senior debuts. Estêvão, the 19-year-old Chelsea forward who missed the World Cup through injury, is back.
The bigger names have not gone anywhere. Vinicius and Endrick come in from Real Madrid, Raphinha from Barcelona, Gabriel Magalhães from Arsenal and Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle. Bento of Al-Nassr heads the goalkeepers, with Lucas Perri of Torino and Pedro Morisco of Coritiba behind him. There is nobody from Flamengo or Palmeiras, the two clubs fighting for the Brazilian title, after the CBF kept them out of this window.
Midfield is where Ancelotti is still searching. “We have young centre-backs and a lot of young forwards, but fewer midfielders,” he told reporters at the CBF headquarters. Andrey Santos of Manchester United, João Gomes of Aston Villa and Gabriel Bontempo of Santos are the names he has to work with.
Japan first, then the Lions
Japan come first, on Saturday 14 November at 6.15pm Singapore time. Ancelotti called them “a team that competes very well, very organised”, and the fixture carries history at this ground: Brazil beat Japan 4-0 at the National Stadium on 14 October 2014, with Neymar scoring all four.
The Lions get their turn on Tuesday 17 November, kicking off at 6pm in the first half of a doubleheader. Japan play Paraguay at 9.10pm the same night. Singapore open the series against Paraguay on Friday 13 November at 8pm. The squad is due to gather for training on 10 and 11 November.
Tickets for the Brazil nights
Tickets are on Ticketmaster and the hotline on 6018 7645, with a limit of 10 per purchase. Japan v Brazil and the 17 November doubleheader share the same prices: S$98 in Category 4, S$138 in Category 3, S$208 in Category 2, S$268 in Category 1 and S$888 for VIP. Singapore v Paraguay runs from S$28 to S$188. A booking fee of S$6 per ticket applies on seats from S$50, and S$3 on seats from S$20 to S$49.99.
Doors open at 4.15pm for the Japan game and 4pm for the doubleheader. Bags larger than 35cm by 20cm by 30cm, air horns, whistles and professional cameras are not allowed in, and children aged three and above need their own ticket.
