Brazil’s Cunha emerges as tactical mastermind in World Cup resurgence

Brazil’s World Cup renaissance has found its architect in an unlikely figure: Matheus Cunha, the unconventional centre-forward who has become the tactical cornerstone of Carlo Ancelotti’s side. As the tournament advances and the knockout stages approach, Cunha’s three goals and sophisticated approach to play have become crucial for Brazil’s improved form, which has gathered strength throughout the group stage. Unlike the archetypal number nine of Brazilian football tradition—the pure strikers of Ronaldo, Adriano and Romario’s ilk—Cunha operates as something altogether different: a nine-and-a-half hybrid who effortlessly transitions between leading the line and orchestrating play from deeper positions. His ability to move back into midfield, open up opportunities for wingers Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, and contribute defensively has provided a solution that left even Ancelotti unsure before the tournament began.

The nine-and-a-half revolution

Cunha’s role displays notable parallels to Roberto Firmino’s method throughout his time at Liverpool, where the Brazilian attacking midfielder would consistently drift deep to confound his marker’s placement. When defenders follow Cunha’s movement towards the midfield, it opens up vital room for Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo to utilise on the flanks. Conversely, when opponents maintain their shape, Cunha obtains the freedom to operate between the lines, receiving possession and either playing incisive passes or taking chances himself. This strategic adaptability has transformed Brazil’s attacking shape, providing the balance and fluidity that Ancelotti’s system requires whilst preserving defensive stability.

What establishes Cunha’s input notably important is his readiness to accept the unglamorous dimensions of his position. He aggressively pressures opponents from the front, initiates defensive transitions, and sometimes descends into midfield to defend the backline—duties that traditional centre-forwards often sidestep. His familiarity with these duties showcases a contemporary player’s comprehension of positional football. The fact that Cunha seems genuinely content with this multifarious role, rather than pursuing individual glory, has cultivated a unified harmony within Brazil’s attacking unit that translates into harmonious team showings.

• Withdraws into deeper areas to create space for wide attackers
• Scores goals whilst facilitating teammates’ attacking moves
• Contributes defensively through pressing and positioning
• Offers tactical flexibility the system demands

Departing from traditional approach

Brazil’s football culture has historically revered the archetypal number nine—the pure goalscorer who operates primarily in the box. Legends like Ronaldo, Adriano, and Romário exemplified this approach, their prolific finishing shaping Brazilian football for generations. Cunha’s emergence signifies a philosophical departure from this tradition. He is not a conventional striker or creative midfielder—instead a versatile player that questions traditional positional definitions. This development reflects contemporary football’s direction towards versatility and tactical intelligence over specialised roles.

Ancelotti’s exploration before the tournament—testing Cunha, Igor Thiago, Endrick, João Pedro, and Richarlison—highlighted Brazil’s doubt about their optimal centre-forward configuration. That fitness issues unintentionally enabled this finding illustrates how occasionally managerial breakthroughs emerge through circumstance rather than meticulous planning. Cunha’s emergence as Brazil’s central figure validates this accidental solution, demonstrating that at times the most transformative tactical choices come not through intentional planning but through necessity and adaptation.

Ancelotti’s tactical framework emerges

Carlo Ancelotti’s route to discovering Brazil’s optimal formation has been one of incremental development rather than complete restructuring. The Italian manager began the tournament with considerable uncertainty about his favoured starting lineup, necessitating a phase of strategic adjustment across the initial rounds. Yet with each passing fixture, the pieces have come together with increasing clarity. Brazil’s progress has been evident and quantifiable, with the team gaining momentum and confidence as the event develops. This deliberate strategy—allowing the squad to gel organically rather than applying inflexible frameworks—has produced results precisely when they carry greatest importance, with the knockout stages now approaching.

The moment of Ancelotti’s tactical realisation is crucial. As Brazil prepare to face Japan in the last thirty-two, they possess a well-established system and a established squad of players who grasp their individual roles. This clarity of purpose represents a significant advantage over teams still grappling with formation and personnel questions. Ancelotti’s readiness to evolve and adjust his thinking, rather than stubbornly adhering to preconceived notions, has proven instrumental in Brazil’s resurgence. The manager has essentially constructed a bespoke tactical framework around Cunha’s distinctive abilities, establishing a system where every outfield player’s role enhances the whole.

The shift from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3

Ancelotti’s deployment of Cunha has demanded understated yet substantial adjustments to Brazil’s core structure. The established 4-2-3-1 formation, which emphasises defensive stability through a twin pivot, has slowly shifted to a increasingly flexible 4-3-3 structure. This transition allows increased attacking licence whilst preserving appropriate defensive security. Cunha’s readiness to drop deep and operate deeper in midfield has been vital to facilitating this structural change. The formation now accommodates Vinicius Júnior and Raphinha’s attacking ambitions on the flanks whilst sustaining tactical balance through smart positioning.

What characterises Ancelotti’s system is its adaptability within apparent rigidity. Whilst Brazil ostensibly play in a 4-3-3 shape, the setup is sufficiently fluid to allow for positional interchangeability. Cunha’s movements create constant unpredictability for opposing defenders, whilst the midfield trio adjusts their positioning to compensate. This flexible tactical approach, grounded in defined principles rather than rigid instructions, has become the defining feature of Brazil’s enhanced results. Ancelotti has fundamentally established a system where organisation serves the individual capabilities of his players rather than limiting them.

• Cunha’s deep positioning creates space for wide attackers
• Midfield three delivers defensive protection and constructive play
• Full-backs gain attacking licence with midfield cover
• Setup shifts dynamically depending on ball control and moment
• System maximises Brazil’s offensive quality without compromising stability

Possessing without obsessing

Brazil’s approach under Ancelotti represents a significant shift from the possession-dominated football that prevailed in European clubs throughout the 2010s. Rather than chasing meaningless pass completion percentages, the Seleção have adopted a more deliberate philosophy where possession fulfils a strategic purpose. Cunha’s movement and positioning exemplify this change. By playing deeper and operating between the lines, he transforms possession into attacking opportunities rather than simple statistical accumulation. The team’s enhanced results stem not from dominating possession, but from using it strategically to generate quality opportunities for their attacking players.

This pragmatic approach has liberated Brazil from the constraints of strict possession-based systems. Against Japan, for instance, Brazil don’t have to control the ball for 70 per cent of the match to achieve victory. Instead, Ancelotti’s strategic approach allows the team to be effective in their possession management, striking with sharpness when openings present themselves. Cunha’s flexibility enables Brazil to move fluidly between compact defending and attacking fluidity. The team can absorb pressure when needed, then swiftly move through Cunha’s intelligent positioning to execute devastating counter-attacks that capitalise on the space left by opposing defences.

Laying traps and controlling the game

Cunha’s defensive contributions are frequently underrated in analysis of Brazil’s revival, yet they demonstrate crucial importance to Ancelotti’s overall strategy. When Brazil apply pressure, Cunha operates as the first line of pressure, forcing opposing defenders into rushed choices. His readiness to drop deep and operate like a makeshift number six provides additional defensive cover, allowing the midfield to push forward with greater confidence. This shrewd pressing system, orchestrated through Cunha’s positioning, enables Brazil to control matches without necessarily dominating possession statistics. The result is a team that appears increasingly difficult to break down whilst remaining genuinely threatening in attack.

A fresh Brazilian national character develops

Brazil’s World Cup campaign has seen a fundamental reimagining of what it means to be a Seleção striker. For many years, the nation’s attacking philosophy revolved around the archetypal number nine—a prolific finisher operating in the classic number nine position. Yet Cunha’s rise represents a departure from this proven formula, one that reflects a wider shift in how Ancelotti envisions Brazilian football. Rather than seeking another Ronaldo or Adriano, the manager has embraced a increasingly adaptable system to spearheading the attack. This strategic adjustment has delivered impressive results, converting what initially appeared a area of doubt into Brazil’s most valuable tactical advantage.

The flexibility Cunha offers transcends his technical abilities with the ball. His readiness to play across different roles—functioning simultaneously as a nine, a ten, and even a defensive shield—has granted Ancelotti remarkable tactical options. This adaptability has enabled Brazil to sustain organisational balance whilst optimising offensive capability, a equilibrium that eluded the team during qualifying. The perceptual change is equally important; Brazilian observers and experts alike have come to accept that innovation can compromise identity. Cunha exemplifies this modern blend, proving that Brazilian football can develop without departing from its essential attacking tenets.

• Cunha’s versatile function creates tactical unpredictability for enemy backlines during games
• Brazil move quickly between compact defending and attacking fluidity through his tactical positioning
• The tactical system frees the team from rigid possession-based philosophical constraints