Fifa World Cup: Endrick’s Brazil wait sparks memes as Ancelotti faces fan scrutiny
Brazil fans seem convinced about one thing. It is that coach Carlo Ancelotti will go to any length to avoid playing Endrick! And the widely echoed sentiment among the Selecao faithful has recently seen fans tap into their wildest imaginations, manifesting in a meme fest that has taken the digital wo
By Rohan Alvares
Brazil fans seem convinced about one thing.
It is that coach Carlo Ancelotti will go to any length to avoid playing Endrick! And the widely echoed sentiment among the Selecao faithful has recently seen fans tap into their wildest imaginations, manifesting in a meme fest that has taken the digital world by storm.Among the most viral ones is an AI-generated 90-sec ‘masterpiece’, as some are calling it, which perhaps best captures the prevailing mood in the Canary corner.It demonstrates how Ancelotti would much prefer to field even the injured Neymar over the promising teenager, who is seen gesticulating in frustration on the sidelines as the veteran Italian tactician remains firm in his intent not to send him on.
Not even after Neymar is shown being struck by one incredible tragedy after another — from being hit by a meteorite to being tackled by a horde of American football players.Having miraculously survived all that, Neymar is then seen hobbling off on his crutch, leaving Endrick to believe he will finally get his chance.
As the substitution board flashes, however, it is Ancelotti instead who comes on, goes on a mazy run and ends up scoring a goal.
The video ends with the Italian celebrating his goal while Endrick walks away in disgust.To say Ancelotti ‘doesn’t like’’ Endrick, as Brazil fans seem to suspect, would be quite an exaggeration, even though the notion hasn’t exactly arisen out of thin air.
Fans have pointed to the overly cautious manner in which Ancelotti deployed Endrick at Real Madrid (see pic) .
When Ancelotti was appointed Brazil’s manager, fans joked about the likelihood of that trend continuing with the Selecao.
That Endrick was unused when Brazil were held by Morocco in their opener only added fuel to the murmurs.The 19-year-old did come on past the hour against Haiti.
And the standing ovation he received spoke to his popularity among Brazil fans.
Whether that is enough to sway Ancelotti into showing more faith in the young forward remains to be seen. “I’ll bring Endrick on at the right moment,” he has promised.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates.
Download the TOI app.