Brazil Step onto the Pitch Without Neymar!
Collected Photo
After days of speculation surrounding his return, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has delivered encouraging news ahead of the team's final group-stage match: Neymar has recovered from injury and is fit to play.
However, Brazilian media outlet Globo reports that the superstar is unlikely to start against Scotland.
Neymar suffered an injury before the group stage and missed Brazil's matches against Morocco and Haiti. The forward has returned to training with the squad in recent days and appears ready to make his comeback.
Speaking at a pre-match news conference, Ancelotti confirmed that Neymar is available for selection.
The Brazil coach stopped short of revealing whether the forward would be included in the starting lineup. He only indicated that Rayan could replace Raphinha in the team.
As a result, Globo expects Neymar to begin the match on the bench and potentially feature in the second half.
Ancelotti also acknowledged that it remains unclear how many minutes Neymar can handle, saying the decision will depend on his condition on match day.
Whether Neymar plays 90 minutes, 45 minutes or only a brief cameo will become clear when Brazil takes on Scotland early Thursday morning.
