Neymar expected – Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said Neymar Jr. is expected to be available for Monday’s World Cup round of 32 match against Japan, after returning as a substitute against Scotland following a calf injury.
HOUSTON — Neymar Jr. could be back on the pitch when Brazil faces Japan in the World Cup round of 32 on Monday, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
Ancelotti said the Brazil star is making “great progress” after being sidelined for Brazil’s first two World Cup matches while recovering from a calf injury. Neymar returned as a 76th-minute substitute in the group-stage finale against Scotland on June 24.
On Sunday. Ancelotti declined to name his starting lineup for the Japan game but offered a clear hint that Neymar’s minutes could extend beyond the cautious ceiling the team had previously set. “Neymar is making great progress,” Ancelotti said through a translator. “I believe that in the last week his progress was very significant; unfortunately. he could not train during the time he was with us so that he could play longer than 15 minutes. I think he is doing well enough to do that but obviously it will depend on the context that we’ll be facing during tomorrow’s match.”.
The timing matters because Neymar is 34 and entering his fourth World Cup. Scotland was the first time he played for Brazil in almost three years. after a serious knee injury in October 2023 during the South American qualifiers. From there. his return to form was slow enough that it initially wasn’t clear whether he would even make Brazil’s World Cup roster.
That uncertainty followed another setback in May. Neymar, announced as part of Brazil’s World Cup squad, suffered a minor calf injury while playing for Santos FC. The injury kept him out of Brazil’s group games against Morocco and Haiti.
When Neymar finally returned against Scotland, it came with emotion and urgency. Fans chanted his name as he made his comeback.
Now, with the Japan match approaching, Ancelotti’s update draws a straight line from rehabilitation to decision-making. Neymar’s progress may have opened the door to more than 15 minutes, but the coach tied any extended involvement to what Brazil faces during the game itself.
Neymar Jr Brazil Japan World Cup Carlo Ancelotti round of 32 calf injury Scotland Santos FC Morocco Haiti
So he’s back… but is he actually fit or just rushing him for TV? lol
15 minutes cap?? That’s wild. I saw the headline and thought he was fully healed already.
Wait, calf injury but he came on vs Scotland at 76th minute. Wouldn’t that mean he’s been training the whole time? Kinda confused how he couldn’t train but also is ready.
World Cup round of 32 and they’re still talking about minutes like he’s on a minutes leash. Also Neymar 34, fourth World Cup, but they keep acting like he’s 22. I hope he doesn’t tweak the knee again from October 2023 or whatever, because the Brazil team needs him but injuries snowball.