Miami, 24 June (H.S.):

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed on Tuesday that star forward Neymar is available for Brazil’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match against Scotland, although a decision on whether he will be included in the starting lineup has not yet been made.

The 34-year-old Neymar has been handed an opportunity to return to the national team after nearly three years. However, he has yet to feature in the tournament due to a calf injury.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Ancelotti said, “Neymar is available. He has trained well this week and is ready for the match. We are extremely pleased to have him back because his quality can be very valuable for the team.”

He added, “I have come to know him closely. He has worked very seriously to recover quickly from his injury. Even if he does not take the field, his experience and understanding of the game help the younger players.”

When asked how long Neymar could potentially play, Ancelotti responded in a light-hearted manner, saying, “He can play 90 minutes, but walking. He is fully fit and has trained exceptionally well.”

Brazil drew 1-1 with Morocco in their opening match and then defeated Haiti 3-0 in their second fixture. A victory against Scotland would secure the Seleção’s place in the Round of 32.

Ancelotti said, “Our first match was not our best performance. The second was better. We believe the third match will be our best so far.”

Brazil will also be without Raphinha for the encounter after the winger suffered a hamstring injury. However, Ancelotti declined to reveal who would replace him in the starting XI.

Speaking about Scotland, he said, “Scotland are a strong and disciplined team. They have experienced players and know how to compete. No match is easy at the World Cup, so we are prepared for a difficult challenge.”

Brazil experienced travel delays while journeying from New Jersey to Miami, which also caused Ancelotti’s press conference to start later than scheduled. Despite the inconvenience, the Italian coach said he is thoroughly enjoying his first World Cup as a manager.

“Other than today’s minor issue, everything has been fantastic,” Ancelotti said. “We have quality and we have confidence. We believe this World Cup can become a memorable one for us. Anything is possible in football, but this experience will certainly be a very beautiful one.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar