Ancelotti makes Mourinho prediction for Real Madrid, names ‘last’ player to win World Cup ‘alone’

Talking about Brazil’s tactical approach at the upcoming World Cup, Ancelotti said: “Listen, the last two World Cups that Brazil won were in 1994 and 2002. Everyone remembers, and me also, the pair of Romario and Bebeto in 1994, and of course the trio of Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Ronaldo.

“But I do not forget that in ’94, Brazil played with two lines of four, with four strong defenders and four strong defensive midfielders: Mazinho, Dunga, Mauro Silva. Zinho. All midfielders. No wingers. Four midfielders, plus big talent up front in Romario and Bebeto.”

Ancelotti: Maradona won the World Cup alone

Brazil won the 1994 World Cup, beating Arrigo Sacchi’s Italy on penalties. Ancelotti was Sacchi’s assistant that year and, from there, he started a brilliant coaching career that has led him to win the Champions League five times and the domestic title in each of the top-five European leagues: Italy, England, Spain, Germany and France.

“Then, in 2002. Nobody forgets Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, and Rivaldo. But I don’t forget that, for the first time in the World Cup, Brazil played with three centre-backs,” Ancelotti continued.

“The combination between defensive (organisation) and talent is the key of the success, and we are working on this.

“Of course, we have to keep talent because no country has a talent that always showed up in the Brazilian national team. But we have to add all the other components; a good spirit, attitude, working hard, sacrifice, all these kinds of things. Because talent alone is not able to win a World Cup. The last memory that I had of a player who won the World Cup alone was (Argentina’s) Diego Maradona, in 1986.”