Why Cunha is central to Brazil's new shape under Ancelotti

Brazil’s World Cup campaign is starting to look more settled, and Matheus Cunha is a big reason why. Under Carlo Ancelotti, the team appears to have found a balance that suits the players they now have, with Cunha’s movement, link-up play and pressing giving Brazil a different kind of centre-forward.

Cunha is not a classic No. 9 in the old Brazilian mould. He drops deep, links attacks and creates space for Vinicius Jr and Rayan, while still contributing goals himself — he has scored three at the tournament so far. That makes him more of a hybrid forward, somewhere between striker and playmaker, and it seems to be exactly what this Brazil side needs.

The tactical shift around him has been important too. Brazil have moved from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3, which gives Casemiro more support in midfield and allows the team to control games more cleanly. With Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta helping in central areas, Brazil no longer look exposed in the way they did early on.

Ancelotti’s adaptability is another major factor. Brazil are not trying to dominate possession for its own sake; instead, they are happy to let opponents have the ball and then press at the right moment. That approach has worked well so far, including against Scotland, where Brazil created danger by setting traps and punishing mistakes.

The injuries and positional changes have also nudged Brazil into a more effective shape. Raphinha’s absence helped settle Rayan on the right, while Vinicius stays higher and fresher on the left. That leaves Cunha with room to operate between the lines, where he is hardest to mark.

There is still room for change, and Ancelotti has other options if he needs a more physical centre-forward or a different tactical look. But right now, Cunha feels like the solution Brazil had been searching for. If he keeps combining goals, intelligence and defensive work, he could end up defining this team’s tournament.