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Neymar was once again absent from Brazil's national team training in Morristown, New Jersey, as the squad prepared for their World Cup opener against Morocco on Saturday. Meanwhile, the team also celebrated head coach Carlo Ancelotti's 67th birthday.
Players honored the Italian, who is tasked with ending Brazil's 24-year wait for a sixth World Cup title, with a traditional guard of honor. However, Barcelona forward Raphinha joked that the players opted for a gentler approach than usual. “He walked through, but no one touched him,” Raphinha noted.
Neymar continues his intensive rehabilitation after sustaining a calf injury during a Santos match in Brazil in mid-May. The 34-year-old is confirmed to miss the first game, and there are still no indications whether he will participate in subsequent group stage matches against Haiti and Scotland.
Despite Neymar's absence, Brazilian pundits present at the team's training remained optimistic. “Brazil isn't the overwhelming favorite, but they have good players who can unite to form a strong team. I think they have their chances,” said Zinho, a key midfielder for the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
Zinho, currently an ESPN analyst, believes Ancelotti's team will be cautious against a Moroccan side that reached the semifinals of the last World Cup in Qatar 2022.
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