Carlo Ancelotti kept his starting lineup for Brazil's friendly against Australia a secret during the team's first full-squad training session in Brisbane. The session took place on Wednesday at Ballymore Stadium, with players arriving in the Australian city that same day.
Ancelotti gave no hints about the team that will face Australia on Friday at 7:00 AM Brasília time. "With the full group, Ancelotti keeps the mystery about the team that will face Australia," the Italian coach said. The training was the first with all called-up players present, including Otávio, Arthur Dias and Vanderson, who joined the group.
During the session, Bruno Guimarães and Gabriel Magalhães were rested from most of the exercises. Vanderson, Marquinhos and Estevão worked on the right side of the pitch, while Douglas Santos, Gabriel Magalhães and Vini operated on the left flank. In midfield, Danilo Santos and Bruno Guimarães paired up, with Raphinha and Pedro linking in attack.
The Seleção, who top their World Cup qualifying group with seven points from three games, will travel to Townsville on Thursday. The next fixture is the friendly against Australia on September 25. The preparation schedule also includes another match against the Australians on Tuesday in Brisbane, and a meeting with India on October 3 in Calcutta.
The team's last result was a 2-1 defeat to Norway on July 5, but their recent form over five games shows three wins, one draw and one loss. Forward Vinícius Júnior is the top scorer this season with four goals in five appearances. Fans can follow the team's progress and check the full squad list on the official site. The next step is a second training session in Brisbane before the departure for Townsville.
More detail at Globo Esporte
