Carlo Ancelotti turns 67 with an unprecedented challenge: the World Cup Carlo Ancelotti turned 67 this Wednesday (10), on the eve of his first World Cup as coach. Pats on the shoulder, handshake. It doesn't even seem like this Wednesday (10) is such an important day. June 10, 1959: Carlo Ancelotti was born in the small town of Reggiolo in northern Italy. But, as an inhabitant of the world of football, we can say that he was born in Pelé's kingdom. It had been less than a year since Brazil had dominated the planet, winning the World Cup for the first time. 📱Bookmark g1 on Google and follow the main news of the day Eleven years later, the Italian boy suffered the defeat that Italy took in the 1970 World Cup final and never forgot it. Ancelotti says that, that day, he learned what Brazilian football was. He learned through pain and today he shares the joy. Surrounded by Brazilians, he celebrates 67 years of life. “There was a cake, usually, when there's a birthday, the kitchen staff prepares a cake to sing happy birthday, do something really cool”, says Raphinha, the Seleção's striker. He could already be resting, receiving congratulations from friends and family. But, when he was old enough to retire, one of the most successful coaches in the world decided to start over. After winning 31 club titles, he took charge of a team in a World Cup for the first time. Now, he has behind him not a crowd, but an entire country, the best in the history of football. When Brazil debuts against Morocco, Ancelotti will be writing a few lines in this tradition. He will be the oldest coach to lead the Brazilian team in a World Cup, surpassing Zagallo by two months in 1998. Carlo Ancelotti celebrates his birthday with an unprecedented challenge ahead: the World Cup National Newspaper/ Reproduction It is Ancelotti's second anniversary with Brazil. A year ago, good memories: it was the day Brazil qualified for this World Cup, defeating Paraguay. Now, players want to multiply that joy. This Wednesday (10), Raphinha promised gifts. And look, they were great rivals, one in Real Madrid and the other in Barcelona. "I hope I can do everything I did against him, do it for him, especially in the World Cup. And as I said: I will always try to do my best", says Raphinha. The first gift arrived at training. In the birthday boy's tunnel, the staff took it easy on the boss. "They relieved him. I don't think anyone touched him. They just let him pass", says Raphinha. And, as everyone behaved well, it wouldn't be too much of an abuse to remind the birthday boy this Wednesday (10) that Brazil loves a gift too. Comments Paulo Nunes and Renata Vasconcellos in New York, United States National Newspaper/ Reproduction Renata Vasconcellos: When Carlo Ancelotti visited Jornal Nacional for an interview, a few weeks ago, I joked with him: "Ancelotti, we share the same birthday, June 10th, Geminis." Then he looked at me and said: "Multiple personalities." I would say that Ancelotti is also versatile in technique and tactics. Because, of course, he has his preferences, but he is also very flexible in the face of circumstances. I wanted to hear you. Paulo Nunes, commentator: About these multiple ideas he has for the Brazilian team, just with this size, just with this victorious career. Mainly: a guy who won five Champions Leagues. A guy who won the biggest leagues in world football. Renata Vasconcellos: As a player and also as a coach. Paulo Nunes: The size he has, the respect he brings from the other teams, the respect for the players, for the hierarchy. The player has to look above him, he cannot look down. And respect for us. He brings this confidence so that we can really believe in this achievement. Renata Vasconcellos: And don't you think he has this kind of flexibility, he plays with what he has? He himself says: "I don't look back, I don't cry over spilled milk. I look at what I have, the possibilities I have." This is a characteristic of him. And, of course, that so-called “discreet leadership”. Paulo Nunes: I go back to his size. In addition to having that, he has the courage. He is changing a game system before the first game of the competition. He only played once with this system. Renata Vasconcellos: Are you talking about changing the game plan now, just in time for Brazil's debut? Paulo Nunes: Only with this size can he do that. The charge, the requirement is very high. So, when you have a 4-2-4 system - that is, two players in midfield, Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães, with four attackers - it is a very offensive team, which is not their characteristic. Ele é um europeu, um italiano, que preza muito por manter o equilíbrio defensivo. Then we get into that scheme that football players talk about a lot: taking care of the house. Taking care of the house is taking care of the goal. That's what Italians like to do. He brings, again, a striker, takes away a striker from the front, from the four. Ele bota no meio-campo o Paquetá para protegem melhor esse sistema e a Seleção fica muito mais consistente. Renata Vasconcellos: So, can we expect, for the debut against Morocco, so to speak, something new in Ancelotti's tactical scheme? Paulo Nunes: And, for me, this is good news. It's a stronger team defensively. And then you release the two players who can decide: Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior. 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