The waves got bigger and bigger, waves of criticism crashing against Carlo Ancelotti. Detractors said Brazil did not have a settled line-up. That Brazil lacked identity. They pulled apart his choices against Morocco; Roger Ibanez at right-back, Igor Thiago up front. Why, Carlo? Why? Then his substitutions at MetLife came under scrutiny. Ancelotti made five of them. But Endrick, he didn’t get on. Why, Carlo? Why? The waves continued. Raphinha looked lost Brazil’s opening match, an underwhelming 1-1 draw. Did he not need more detailed tactical instruction? What value, if any, have you brought to the national team, Carlo? An eyebrow arched. The waves swept over him. They did not take him under.Pressure? “I mean it’s actually a privilege,” he said. If there’s anyone who can handle choppy waters, it’s ‘Anselocci’. Over the last week at the New York Red Bulls training facility in Morris Township, New Jersey, the 67-year-old Italian watched the waves and came to a realisation. He needed a surfer. Matheus Cunha was one of two changes Ancelotti made against Haiti. He decided to replace Igor Thiago, the Brentford striker, who will rue the chance he missed early on against Morocco when Vinicius Jr stood up a cross for him, which he glanced agonisingly wide.Whether it’ll be Thiago’s last chance remains to be seen. It is a long tournament and, as Ancelotti said last week, you don’t judge a team or this group of players on their first game at the World Cup. As the waves battered him, he called for patience. Spain lost to Switzerland in 2010. Argentina suffered a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2022. Both recovered to win the tournament.Cunha scores his second goal against Haiti (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)At Lincoln Financial Field on Friday, Cunha pulled on Brazil’s navy No.9 jersey. Overlooked at the last World Cup in Qatar, when he didn’t make the final squad, this was his moment. Ancelotti likes Cunha for the same reason Man United do. “We can talk about his technical abilities and he can play in three different positions,” United’s CEO Omar Berrada said. “He’s a playmaking attacking midfielder; he can score goals, he can make assists. I think he’s going to lift people off their seats. He’s got a bit of a swagger about him that people are going to really like.” What the marketing execs behind Brazil’s branding call Jogo Bonito.