Brazil has wrapped up its participation within the CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifiers, leaving solely pleasant matches earlier than the worldwide event, which is ready to be Neymar’s final with the verdeamarelha. Nonetheless, new coach Carlo Ancelotti has made his stance clear on the star’s function within the crew: “He can’t play on the wings.”
With Brazil set to face Chile and Bolivia, expectations had been excessive for Neymar to return to the nationwide crew. However in a conflict of views between participant and coach, Ancelotti sidelined the Santos ahead because of a “technical choice,” elevating questions on Neymar’s actual function.
Talking to ESPN Brasil, Ancelotti revealed he stays in fixed contact with Neymar and mentioned the choice with him instantly. “I spoke with him. He got here to the lodge earlier than the match in opposition to Paraguay, and we talked about it. Every little thing is evident, the thought stays the identical,” the Italian stated.
Ancelotti defined why Neymar can not play on the flanks: “As an attacking midfielder or ahead; he has to play by the middle, he can’t play on the wings as a result of fashionable soccer requires forwards with bodily high quality; that’s essential. He can play as an attacking midfielder with none downside.”
Neymar final appeared for the Brazil nationwide crew in October 2023.
At present at Santos and now with new coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda, Neymar has largely occupied central positions within the assault, whereas winger Guilherme covers the left flank. In video games, Neymar typically drifts extensive earlier than reducing inside to use his dribbling abilities.
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Brazil’s extensive positions are anticipated to be dealt with by Vinicius Junior and Raphinha. Neymar carried out an identical function on the 2022 World Cup, but it surely stays unsure how this setup will work given the restricted variety of video games he has performed with Brazil since that event.
Neymar, just for Brazil at 100%
Neymar not too long ago revealed that an adductor challenge influenced the teaching employees’s choice to go away him out, a selection that annoyed the star. In his absence, Ancelotti used the September worldwide break to check native skills and discover choices for the squad.
In an interview with L’Equipe, Ancelotti emphasised that even when Neymar will not be known as up for the following FIFA dates, it won’t have an effect on his probabilities of being taken to the World Cup: “A nationwide crew must deliver collectively probably the most gifted gamers. That’s apparent, proper? However a gifted participant additionally must be in bodily form. He needs to be at 100%, not 80%.
He went on to reward Neymar and defined why he sidelined him briefly. “Neymar is bettering his bodily situation. He’s, indisputably, probably the most gifted Brazilian participant. He had a small bodily downside and recovered in a short time. However I need him to be in prime situation so he can play. He can participate within the World Cup if he’s bodily match. From a technical standpoint, there’s no debate,” stated Ancelotti.
