Scotland's World Cup opponents: Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil are in it to win it

If there’s one team that seems to personify the magic of the World Cup finals, it’s five-time winners Brazil, who Scotland will face in their final Group C match next summer.

The South American giants, renowned for their individual flair and collective success, are familiar foes for Scotland, with the teams having met at five previous World Cups.

The good news for the Tartan Army is that any match at the finals involving Brazil’s travelling support turns into a party, with the matches taking place against a backdrop of colour, music and passion.

The bad news? Scotland have never defeated Brazil and next year they will come up against a collection of talented players with every intent to follow in the footsteps of their countrymen who have lifted the famous trophy.

How did they qualify?

The South American confederation Conmebol favours a single league structure for qualification, with the top six sides earning direct qualification for the finals, and the team in seventh having the consolation of a play-off spot.

Brazil began the long 18-game campaign back in September 2023 with a 5-1 win over Bolivia under the caretaker manager Fernando Diniz but he was replaced four months later by Dorival Júnior.

Results were mixed and he lasted 16 games in total, being sacked after a record-equalling 4-1 defeat to Argentina. New manager Carlo Ancelotti got the team over the line but in a league where Argentina were runaway winners, nine points ahead of the pack after 18 games played, Brazil were fifth. Only one point separated second from sixth.

While never in real danger of missing out, a record of eight wins, four draws and six losses marked it as a qualification campaign to forget.

Who is the boss?

Carlo Ancelotti brings vast experience and a winner's mentality to the Brazil dugout. — Carlo Ancelotti brings vast experience and a winner’s mentality to the Brazil dugout. SNS Group

If there’s such a thing as guaranteeing success in football, hiring Carlo Ancelotti is probably as close as you get to it.

A former international midfielder, his coaching career has seen him win the title in each of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues, and win the Champions League five times as a manager (adding to the two medals he earned as a Milan midfielder).

Marrying Ancelotti’s serial-winner mentality to the five-time World Cup-winning nation instantly makes the team a contender for success next summer.

Who are the star men?

Take your pick. Captained by Paris St Germain stalwart Marquinhos, Brazil have a mixture of experience and youth, defensive nous and attacking brio.

Arsenal’s Gabriel and Real Madrid’s Eder Militao are among the other defenders, while Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta are midfield options for the manager.

Up front there’s an embarrassment of riches. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo would put fear into many back lines, while Chelsea’s teenage talent Estevao has burst on to the international scene with five goals to his name at the age of 18. Manchester United’s Mateus Cunha and Surps forward Richarlison are in contention, while Joao Pedro, Raphinha, Neymar, Gabriel Martinelli and Igor Jesus are all recent call-ups.

Scotland face Brazil in their third group game, on June 24 in Miami or Atlanta.