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Carlo Ancelotti found himself in a dilemma after Brazil’s second-string players delivered a more clinical performance than the main squad.

RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazil national team manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted feeling conflicted after his reserve lineup outperformed the starting eleven during a recent friendly match.

As part of their preparation for the 2026 World Cup, Brazil faced Panama in a warm-up match.

Playing in front of their home supporters at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Monday morning (June 1, 2026, local time), the Seleção secured an emphatic 6-2 victory.

Six different players found the back of the net for Brazil: Vinicius Junior (1’), Casemiro (38’), Rayan (52’), Lucas Paqueta (59’), Igor Thiago (penalty, 62’), and Danilo Oliveira (80’).

Panama managed two consolation goals, courtesy of an own goal by Matheus Cunha (13’) and another by Harvey (83’).

Behind the dominant scoreline, there was an interesting tactical experiment from the Italian tactician Carlo Ancelotti.

In this warm-up fixture, Ancelotti deliberately fielded two completely different lineups in each half.

During the first half, the veteran coach started with what is expected to be Brazil’s core team for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

Big names such as Alisson Becker, Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, Raphinha, Vinicius Junior, and Matheus Cunha were all given starting roles to build on-field chemistry.

At halftime, Ancelotti opted for a complete overhaul.

He made ten substitutions at once, introducing almost an entirely new set of players from the bench.

Surprisingly, the result on the pitch defied expectations.

While the main squad only managed to score twice in the first half, the substitutes exploded in the second half with four additional goals against Panama.

This remarkable performance from the bench players gave Ancelotti a pleasant headache.

“Don Carlo” now faces the challenge of re-evaluating his ideal starting eleven ahead of football’s biggest stage.

The squad’s depth is proving to be both a blessing and a challenge for the former Real Madrid coach as he tries to craft the perfect tactical balance.

Although Ancelotti praised the determination of his second-string players, he also offered a realistic assessment after the match.

He pointed out that Panama’s intensity had dropped significantly in the second half compared to the first.

“I do have the option to change the team and the strategy,” said Ancelotti, as quoted by UOL via BolaSport.com.

“I think the second half actually gave me a lot of doubts, but that’s good for me.”

“The second-half performance was important for the team and for the substitutes,” he added. “They showed they have the quality to compete with the starters.”

“However, we must also consider the opponent, who lowered their intensity in the second half,” the 66-year-old coach concluded.

At the 2026 World Cup, the five-time world champions will begin their campaign in Group C.

They face a challenging path ahead, with Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland standing in their way for a place in the knockout stages.