India, May 26 -- Brazil's biggest hope to end a 24-year World Cup title drought is not a clinical striker, a creative midfielder or a dribbling winger like in previous editions of the tournament. This time, Brazilians are pinning their hopes on a 66-year-old Italian, who will be sitting on the bench.

Carlo Ancelotti, one of the most successful coaches of his generation, left Real Madrid to take over Brazil's national team last year, a rare example of a foreign coach in charge of the Selecao. Even though his results have been mixed - five wins, three losses and two draws - the country is optimistic he can elevate a squad which is seen as less star-studded than Brazil's iconic teams of the past, despite high-profile players like Neymar and...