Ancelotti's Neymar gamble

Coach Ancelotti has made a decisive decision, ensuring Neymar will participate in the 2026 World Cup despite the player's current injury.

Venture

In a press conference on May 30th, before the Brazilian national team began their quest for their sixth World Cup title, coach Ancelotti made a crucial decision, guaranteeing Neymar's inclusion in the Selecao squad. He affirmed that there would be no changes after the 26 players who would participate in the world's biggest football tournament in the USA, Mexico, and Canada had already been announced.

Neymar will still participate in the 2026 World Cup despite his injury.

Photo: Reuters

By deciding to keep Neymar despite uncertainty about whether he will recover in time to play at least one group stage match, coach Ancelotti is clearly taking a risky gamble. The Italian coach had stated in March: "Only fully fit players will participate in the World Cup." Now, when the Brazilian press brought up the issue again, he explained: "In March, I said there are players who are not fully fit at the moment, but may be fit enough for the World Cup. Unfortunately, Militao, Rodrygo, and Estevao cannot participate, but Neymar can."

Brazilian media were unhappy with coach Ancelotti's statement, as something must have influenced him to contradict his previous pronouncements. Ancelotti even defended his decision to call up Neymar after details of the player's injury were revealed. He said: "We think Neymar will recover as soon as possible. He is training well and in very good spirits."

Channel O Globo predicts Neymar has a grade 2 calf injury, with an estimated recovery time of 2-3 weeks, but it could potentially extend beyond a month. Neymar is expected to be out of the World Cup no earlier than the knockout rounds. If Brazil finishes first or second in Group C, they will face teams from Group F in the Round of 32, including the Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, or Tunisia, on June 30th.

The question then arises: if Neymar returns in time, will it provide a boost for the Brazilian national team or create more pressure? Because Ancelotti will have to use the player once he recovers, regardless of whether the Brazilian team's playing style has stabilized or not.

Neymar unlikely to play in the group stage.

"We still expect Neymar to play in the first World Cup match against Morocco (June 14th, Vietnam time). If he can't play, we'll wait until the second match against Haiti (June 20th), and if he still can't, we'll wait again. We're not replacing anyone; these 26 players have been selected, and they will play in the World Cup," coach Ancelotti asserted. Brazil's final group stage match will be against Scotland on June 25th.

Neymar is widely expected to miss the group stage matches. Besides recovering from injury, he has also been sidelined since May 27th. He was also unable to participate in Brazil's two warm-up matches against Panama (June 1st) and Egypt (June 7th). Therefore, the possibility of him playing, as coach Ancelotti has stated, remains to be seen – only hope and anticipation.

O Globo suggests that the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and coach Ancelotti are forced to include Neymar in the World Cup squad, as excluding him would be a major shock to Brazilian fans. Furthermore, the CBF's main sponsors would be unhappy, leading to unpredictable consequences. Therefore, Ancelotti's statement regarding Neymar puts an end to all speculation, regardless of whether this affects Brazil's goal of winning the 2026 World Cup.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/canh-bac-neymar-cua-ong-ancelotti-185260531215355548.htm