Ancelotti Leaves Neymar Out of the Brazilian National Team
Brazil’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has excluded Neymar from the squad for the second time since taking over as national team coach. Ancelotti explained that Neymar, along with other footballers, needs to regain his best physical form ahead of next summer’s World Cup, even though Brazil has already secured its qualification.Brazil will play its last two qualifying matches on September 4 at home against Chile and on September 9 away against Bolivia. Neymar’s club, Santos, is going through a complicated season in the top Brazilian category, sitting in fifteenth position, two points above the relegation zone. Their difficulties, which included a 6-0 defeat to Vasco de Gama on August 17, have generated the anger of the fans in recent weeks. Neymar, former Barcelona and PSG forward, has continued to struggle with injuries after his return to his childhood club, Santos, in January, and a thigh injury in April was the reason for his exclusion from Ancelotti’s May squad. Brazil has been without its star since October 2023, when he suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee. The national team veteran, Casemiro, was included in the team, while Chelsea’s youngster, Estêvão, after a standout performance on Friday, was also called up.Everyone knows Neymar, the national team, and all the fans in Brazil. Neymar, like everyone else, needs to be in good physical condition to help the team perform well and try to give their best in the World Cup. These two matches are the last of the qualifying phase, and we need to finish this phase well.
Carlo Ancelotti
Brazil’s Complete Call-up:
- Goalkeepers: Alisson, Bento and Hugo Souza.
- Defenders: Alex Ribeiro, Alex Sandro, Caio Henrique, Douglas Santos, Fabrício Bruno, Gabriel Magalhães, Marquinhos, Vanderson and Wesley.
- Midfielders: Andrey Santos, Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Joelinton and Lucas Paquetá.
- Forwards: Estêvão, Gabriel Martinelli, João Pedro, Kaio Jorge, Luiz Henrique, Matheus Cunha, Raphinha and Richarlison.
