Paqueta welcomes Neymar progress and praises Vinicius bond after Brazil win

Lucas Paqueta believes Brazil's 3-0 World Cup win over Haiti marks a significant step in the team's progress. The midfielder, who provided an assist and contributed to a goal, praised the team's performance and build-up play.

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I think we played a good match in line with our expectations of improving our technical quality and our build-up play; we secured a solid victory. It's a match that gives us the confidence to keep improving as the tournament progresses.

"I think we played a good match in line with our expectations of improving our technical quality and our build-up play; we secured a solid victory," Paqueta told reporters. "It's a match that gives us the confidence to keep improving as the tournament progresses."

Brazil also received a boost with Neymar's return to full training. Paqueta expressed the squad's delight at having the star player back. "We're all delighted he's back, back in training and back on the pitch with the rest of us," he said. "He's an absolutely vital player for our national team; he has a wonderful history here and can still help us a great deal."

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We're all delighted he's back, back in training and back on the pitch with the rest of us. He's an absolutely vital player for our national team; he has a wonderful history here and can still help us a great deal. He's very important, just like every other player in the squad. We're happy for him, happy he's back, and we hope he'll be back on the pitch as soon as possible to help us out.

Paqueta also spoke about his close bond with Vinicius Jr., a former Flamengo teammate. "We've had a wonderful friendship for a very long time," Paqueta said. "I first saw Vini when he was still very young; we've had this bond since our days at Flamengo. He's a guy I admire greatly; I have enormous respect for him. Without a doubt, being here with him and experiencing yet another World Cup is incredibly special for us."

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We've had a wonderful friendship for a very long time. I first saw Vini when he was still very young; we've had this bond since our days at Flamengo. He's a guy I admire greatly; I have enormous respect for him. Without a doubt, being here with him and experiencing yet another World Cup is incredibly special for us.