Ancelotti expects Neymar back for Brazil’s World Cup showdown with Scotland

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti anticipates Neymar's return for the team's World Cup finale against Scotland. The star forward has been sidelined with a calf strain but is slated to begin individual training soon, followed by a team session. Ancelotti confirmed Neymar "will be available for the match against Scotland."

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Neymar will be training tomorrow individually and on Monday he’s going to be training with the rest of the team. He will be available for the match against Scotland.

Neymar's previous injuries limited his participation in Brazil's 2026 qualifying campaign, though he proved influential when playing, contributing two goals and three assists in four matches. Meanwhile, Ancelotti remained non-committal about continuing with Matheus Cunha as the center-forward, despite Cunha's brace in the recent 3-0 victory over Haiti.

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He may

"He may," Ancelotti stated when asked about Cunha's continued role. He praised Cunha's ability to create problems for the defense and his effective passing. "It can be an option. We discussed this yesterday. I don’t want a clear identity. Maybe we will change this on the next match," the Italian coach added.

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I think that Matheus’ position was a good position for creating problems for the defence. And he filtered his passes very well, and his position was a good position to be effective at the front. It can be an option. We discussed this yesterday. I don’t want a clear identity. Maybe we will change this on the next match.

Brazil currently leads Group C on goal difference over Morocco, who defeated Scotland 1-0. Scotland, with three points, could be playing for their tournament survival. However, Ancelotti emphasized his team's focus on self-improvement and playing well, rather than on eliminating opponents. "We don’t think about knocking out (Scotland). We think about playing well and improving, and we analyse the match," he said. "If we can reach the first position of the group, that would be important for the future."

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We don’t think about knocking out (Scotland). We think about playing well and improving, and we analyse the match. If we can reach the first position of the group, that would be important for the future. So we want to prepare well for that match.