Brazil closes out 2025 with a friendly that means more than the schedule suggests. After the 2 to 0 win over Senegal, the national team has another chance to show Carlo Ancelotti who’s ready for the final stretch toward the 2026 World Cup. The squad list is coming soon, and every detail carries weight now. In March, France and Croatia are waiting, two opponents that don’t allow room for improvisation. That’s why Tuesday’s match works as a decisive snapshot of the year.
Brazil looks for small adjustments without leaving space for improvisation
The win over Senegal didn’t solve everything, but it helped the team find some rhythm. Estêvão made good use of his chance, Casemiro showed authority again in midfield, and Brazil controlled the game without major issues. Even so, there’s still a lack of consistency. The team has changed too much from one match to another, and that’s exactly the kind of swing Ancelotti wants to eliminate. He said he’ll keep the 4-2-4 system and only make changes if the physical side demands it. Gabriel Magalhães is out with an injury, but the rest of the core should be on the field. The idea is to understand who fits the model well and who still needs to settle in.
There’s no room left for wide-open testing or random experiments. It’s about observing behavior, movement and decision-making. Brazil needs to use this friendly to get closer to a structure that doesn’t rely on flashes of inspiration. The moment calls for understanding what works on a basic level, match after match, before the final call-up. It’s worth remembering that the most successful national team in soccer history is still dealing with the fallout of so many coaching changes.
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Tunisia arrives in solid form and uses the match
Tunisia comes in with a different picture, but with its own goals. The team is already qualified for the 2026 World Cup and is on a positive run with four straight games without losing. The qualifying campaign was strong, with nine wins in ten matches and no goals conceded.
Their record against Brazil doesn’t help, since the last two meetings ended in heavy defeats. Even so, Tunisia’s current moment is better than it was in previous years. They moved up in the FIFA rankings and arrive in Lille looking for the kind of test they don’t get often. For Tunisia, the focus is on performance. They treat the match as a reference point to adjust details before the Africa Cup of Nations. There’s no unrealistic expectation. It’s simply about understanding what works and what still slips through.
