Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of the Brazilian national team, has been overseeing the preparations for Neymar ahead of the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 fixture against Japan. The 34-year-old player participated in the team’s most recent group stage match, facing Scotland, where he entered the field as a substitute during the 76th minute. Regarding Neymar’s fitness level, Ancelotti provided an assessment of his recovery progress.
The coach stated that the player is improving well and that his physical conditioning has shown marked improvement over the past week. He acknowledged that the primary limitation remains the inability to participate in full-scale training sessions with the squad. However, Ancelotti indicated that Neymar possesses the capability to play for a duration exceeding 15 minutes.
The coach clarified that his actual minutes on the pitch will ultimately depend on the flow and nature of the upcoming match. The team’s preparation has been closely monitored by the coaching staff, with Ancelotti managing expectations regarding the star forward’s immediate availability. The focus remains on ensuring the squad is optimally prepared for the high stakes of the knockout stage.
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