Brazil’s attack remains under scrutiny as Carlo Ancelotti used the friendly against Australia in Brisbane to test a different balance, with Raphinha moved into the centre-forward role and Vinícius Júnior operating alongside him. At Suncorp Stadium, the visitors found an early breakthrough through Vanderson, whose left-footed finish from inside the area flew high into the corner beyond Patrick Beach.
Australia began with an aggressive press and made Brazil work for control, while Beach also denied a well-struck effort from the Barcelona player by punching clear. Vanderson’s goal offered Brazil a moment of quality, but it came against the background of wider concern over a side struggling to turn forward talent into goals.
Rayan, now at Bournemouth, had previously come off the bench to score Brazil’s equaliser against Australia. Vinícius, Endrick and Estêvão had all failed to find the net, while João Pedro’s injury absence has further narrowed Ancelotti’s options. The Italian has therefore explored a central role for Raphinha in training, mirroring the position he has occupied for Barcelona under Hansi Flick.
Brazil started with Otávio in goal; Vanderson, Jair Cunha, Gabriel Magalhães and Mauro Júnior in defence; Danilo Santos, Gabriel Bontempo and Bruno Guimarães in midfield; and Rayan, Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha across the attack. Ancelotti’s available replacements included Douglas Santos, Samuel Lino, Arthur Dias, Pedro Morisco, Estêvão, Vitor Reis, Endrick, Breno Bidon, Andrey Santos, Pedro, Martinelli, Marquinhos, Douglas Luiz, Matheuzinho and Hugo Souza.
Australia lined up under Tony Popovic with Patrick Beach behind Harry Souttar, Lucas Herrington, Alessandro Circati, Aziz Behich and Jacob Italiano. Jackson Irvine, Paul Okon-Engstler and Connor Metcalfe formed the midfield, with Nestory Irankunda and Tete Yengi leading the side’s attacking work. Eli Adams, Kasey Bos, Dylan Leonard, Marcus Younis, Kealey Adamson, Patrick Yazbek, Nishan Velupillay, Yaya Dukuly, Jacob Chapman, Aiden O’Neill, Riley McGree, Jason Geria, Milos Degenek and Paul Izzo were among the substitutes.
For Endrick, the pressure surrounding elite football needs perspective. “Being a footballer is not difficult,” he said. “What is difficult is getting up at five in the morning.” Brazil’s challenge, however, is more immediate: finding the goals that can make Ancelotti’s new attacking shape work when the international spotlight returns.
