Ancelotti Admits Neymar Not Yet Ready

Brazil will be without superstar Neymar for their opening World Cup match against Morocco, and likely for the entire group stage, head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed.

“He’s working hard to recover as quickly as possible. We hope he can return to full training next week,” Ancelotti stated ahead of the team’s opener against the 2022 Qatar World Cup semi-finalists on Saturday in New Jersey. Brazil’s other group opponents are Haiti and Scotland.

Neymar is still recovering from a calf injury. The Brazilian Federation recently announced that the 34-year-old is making progress in his rehabilitation. The world’s most expensive player was absent from training the day before the Morocco match. The Santos forward had already missed two friendlies against Panama and Egypt after being called up by Ancelotti. The Italian coach emphasized that he selected Neymar not only for his footballing prowess but also for his experience.

“He can be a good example for the younger players in our squad,” Ancelotti said.

Teammate Vinicius Junior referred to Neymar as an “idol.” “He inspires me. I wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to his return to the pitch,” he commented.

Morocco’s coach, Mohamed Wahbi, stated that his team is prepared for Neymar’s absence. “We prepared for a match with and without Neymar. Nothing changes for us,” the 49-year-old said.

Captain Achraf Hakimi expressed regret at not playing against Neymar. “I want to play against the best players, and Neymar is among the best,” said the Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain.

Carlo Ancelotti has won almost everything European club football has to offer, but the Brazil manager admitted he still feels the familiar pre-World Cup jitters – and is quite pleased about it. Speaking to the media before the Brazil-Morocco clash, the Italian said that nervousness isn't a weakness but a useful alarm bell, especially against a team that shook up the last World Cup by eliminating Spain and Portugal before falling to France in the semi-finals.

“Fear is an important part of life. If you’re not afraid and are caught off guard, you might see a lion and think it’s a cat. Fear can save your life; it’s always good to be vigilant and focused so your team can play a great game and not be caught unprepared,” Ancelotti said at a press conference. “I am an optimist by nature and very confident. We are well-prepared to play a great game tomorrow and have a great World Cup. We need to perform perfectly in every aspect. In modern football, there are no weak teams – Morocco is one of the best teams in Africa,” he added.