Episode 131 - Can Carlo Ancelotti Fix Brazil? + Norway are on FIRE

On this episode, Patrick and Neel take a global tour of World Cup qualifying, from CAF chaos to Brazil’s search for identity under Ancelotti. Nigeria’s campaign turns wild after a points deduction for South Africa, and we look at why one of Africa’s most talented squads keeps finding ways to trip up. Then, Norway are flying through UEFA qualification with Haaland, Ødegaard, and Nusa leading the charge. Finally, Ecuador grind their way to success in CONMEBOL, while Brazil’s new era begins under Ancelotti. Enjoy! Subscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribe Join Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgrade Follow us on our Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1Q X: https://x.com/TheTransferFlow Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetransferflow.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcast Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:22 – Patreon updates & fan questions 02:45 – CAF Qualifying: Group C madness 03:30 – Benin on top, South Africa’s points deduction 04:42 – South Africa field ineligible player vs Lesotho 06:08 – FIFA’s late ruling changes everything 06:59 – Eritrea withdraws, CAF chaos deepens 07:34 – Nigeria’s complicated qualification path 08:41 – Math, goal difference & yellow card tiebreakers 09:30 – Nigeria’s emergency landing & travel drama 10:13 – Nigerian FA corruption & unpaid coaches 11:13 – Nigeria’s constant managerial turnover 11:45 – Talent overload but no balance 12:50 – The Super Eagles’ tactical mess 13:38 – Too many attackers, not enough structure 14:39 – Building a stable international setup 15:00 – Moving to UEFA: Group I chaos 15:34 – Israel’s group & UEFA’s moral gymnastics 16:08 – Norway’s incredible rise 16:51 – Norway’s 29 goals scored, only 3 conceded 18:09 – How Solbakken built balance around Haaland 18:26 – Ødegaard, Nusa & Sorloth in perfect harmony 19:58 – Why Norway are terrifying on the counter 20:48 – How they blew away Italy 21:47 – Norway’s depth beyond the stars 22:20 – Oscar Bobb & Strand Larsen impress 23:30 – Why this system finally works 24:43 – Norway’s tactical identity & knockout threat 25:45 – Italy’s struggles under Gattuso 26:40 – Five wins and still second place 27:40 – Italy’s defensive frailty returns 28:50 – Two World Cups missed, another crisis looming 29:20 – Over to CONMEBOL: Ecuador shine 29:54 – Ecuador’s incredible defense, awful attack 30:47 – Style, structure & why they’re miserable to face 31:30 – How Ecuador stay high and compact 32:40 – Defensive line, recovery pace & low event games 33:23 – Scoring issues & Enner Valencia dependence 34:34 – Looking for Ecuador’s next striker 35:21 – Brazil’s slow start under Ancelotti 35:51 – Fourth most valuable squad in the world 36:45 – The striker dilemma 37:49 – Vinicius, Martinelli & Rodrygo options 38:49 – Midfield balance: Bruno G, Casemiro & Andre 39:45 – Transitioning from the old guard 40:29 – Can Ancelotti make Brazil more than the sum of its parts? 42:03 – The World Cup picture taking shape 42:32 – Norway, Nigeria, Ecuador & Brazil outlooks 43:24 – FIFA expanding chaos, but more fun teams 43:50 – CAF drama & new World Cup format 44:41 – Wrap up & where to find Neel