Bayer coach shows excitement to watch Flamengo vs. Fluminense

Flamengo will have representatives on the Brazilian national team 's preliminary squad for the friendlies against South Korea and Japan. The names of Léo Ortiz, Alex Sandro, and Samuel Lino have been included by coach Carlo Ancelotti. The official squad will be announced this Wednesday (1st) at 3 p.m. (Brasília time) at the CBF headquarters in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro.

The three athletes have been important pieces in Flamengo 's starting lineup. In the recent match against Estudiantes, in Argentina, they all started playing. In the victory over Corinthians , last Sunday (28), Alex Sandro started on the bench and came on in the second half.

In the last call-up, for the World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia, the trio also appeared on the preliminary list . However, only Samuel Lino was called up, even starting in the defeat against Bolivia.

BRAZIL'S COMMITMENTS

To prepare for the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian national team will play two friendlies on Asian soil. The first will be against South Korea on October 10th at 8:00 am (Brasília time) in Seoul. Four days later, the team will face Japan at 7:30 am (Brasília time) in Tokyo. In November, Brazil will also play two friendlies against African teams, with opponents and venues yet to be determined.

SELECTION PLANNING

The coaching staff's schedule includes new friendlies in March 2026, this time against major European teams. Among the most advanced contacts is a possible duel against France. The final roster for the World Cup will be announced in May , with the possibility of a final friendly match before the national team's debut in June.

Flamengo is preparing this Tuesday (30) a tribute to coach Filipe Luís , who completes one year in charge of the professional team. He took office on September 30, 2024, replacing Tite , after a brief stint in the Rubro-Negro youth ranks. With a contract valid until the end of the current season, the coach has already expressed interest in renewing, but negotiations are still ongoing.

Filipe Luís's transition to coaching has been meteoric. After retiring as a player in 2023, he made his debut as coach of the U-17s in January 2024 , took over the U-20s in June, and just three months later, was given the opportunity to manage the senior team. Despite his brief experience, the coach quickly gained attention for his work and even turned down an offer from Fenerbahçe in Turkey.

RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Since taking over, Filipe Luís has already won three titles: the Copa do Brasil in 2024, as well as the Supercopa do Brasil and the Campeonato Carioca in 2025. This season, Flamengo leads the Brasileirão and is in the semifinals of the Libertadores, keeping alive the chances of lifting more trophies.

The coach also excelled at tactical awareness. In one of his most memorable matches, against Corinthians in the 2024 Copa do Brasil , he reorganized the team after losing a player in the first half, adjusting the defensive strategy and securing qualification.

STATEMENTS BY FILIPE LUÍS

After the victory over Corinthians , Filipe Luís revealed the intensity and emotion of experiencing this moment at Flamengo: " I arrived in the room and thanked them, but not for the victory. I was grateful for the privilege of experiencing unique moments here, both as a player and now as a coach. Every second is a gift for me. I'm making the most of it, even when it's not so good. I'm where I want to be," said the manager.

After the comeback victory over Corinthians by 2 to 1, last Sunday (28), in a game valid for the 25th round of the Brasileirão, the red-black squad received a day of rest on Monday (29). The return is scheduled for the morning of this Tuesday (30), at 9:30 am , at CT Ninho do Urubu, under the command of coach Filipe Luís.

According to Flamengo's official schedule, midfielder Carrascal will hold a press conference immediately after the training session at the training center. The player is expected to speak to reporters around noon (Brasília time), discussing the team's current situation and the next match of the season.

FILIPE LUÍS TURNS ONE YEAR OLD

The club is also preparing a special tribute to Filipe Luís. The coach, a former historic full-back in Brazilian football, completes one year leading the professional team this Tuesday (30) . During this period, he consolidated a competitive squad and kept Flamengo among the main contenders for the Brasileirão title.

The team, currently the undisputed leader of the Brazilian league, is on its way back to the top of the national football league after five years and is also in the Copa Libertadores semifinals . This performance has led Flamengo to renew Filipe Luís's contract until 2026.

FLAMENGO AND CRUZEIRO

Flamengo's next match will be this Thursday (2), at 8:30 pm, against Cruzeiro, at Maracanã. The game is valid for the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship and pits the top two teams in the competition against each other . Rubro-Negro leads the table with 54 points, while the Minas Gerais team is in second place with 50.