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Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário has questioned manager Carlo Ancelotti's tactical setup following the national team's unconvincing start to the World Cup. The 49-year-old iconic striker specifically pointed to the misuse of Barcelona star Raphinha and technical errors fueled by "nerves" during the 1-1 draw against Morocco.
Ronaldo, who played under Ancelotti at AC Milan during his career, was puzzled by the positioning of some key players. Speaking on ESPN Brasil's "Resenha da Copa" show before the clash with Haiti on June 20, Ronaldo highlighted his concern about Raphinha's deployment on the left wing, despite his strong performances in a different role.
"Raphinha on the left, when he had an incredible year with Barcelona playing on the right? There were things that were impossible to understand, but in the second half, they started to improve," explained the two-time Ballon d'Or winner, who believes the Brazilian team is suffering as a result.
Ronaldo Nazário also acknowledged that individual performances were likely hampered by the psychological pressure of the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, but he remains optimistic.
"I remain optimistic. I think the pressure of it being the first match had an effect, because it wasn't normal to misplace so many passes, especially in the first half. Nerves got in the way of the Brazilian national team. Later, watching the interview with Ancelotti and the players and hearing them admit to this nervousness, I felt reassured. It's normal, isn't it? For the boys to have such nerves, especially the newcomers," Ronaldo added.
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