Brazil coach Ancelotti confirms Neymar’s return against Scotland

Brazil forward Neymar is set to return from injury in the team’s final World Cup group-stage match against Scotland on Wednesday.

Brazil team manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed the matter after Brazil’s 3-0 win over Haiti on Saturday, saying that the 34-year-old attacker would rejoin full training shortly before being declared fit for selection.

“Neymar will train alone tomorrow. Then on Monday, he will join the rest of the squad. He will be available for the match against Scotland,” Ancelotti said after the game.

The Santos star had missed Brazil’s opening two matches - against Morocco and Haiti - after picking up a muscle injury in May last.

He sustained the setback on 17 May during a club match. While his club initially described it as minor swelling, Brazil’s football federation later confirmed it was a Grade-2 muscle strain, requiring around three weeks of recovery, which ended on 17 June.

Despite the injury, Neymar was kept in the squad due to his importance to the team. He has already contributed two goals and three assists in just four qualifying appearances.

Brazil’s 3-0 win over Haiti keeps them top of Group C with four points from two matches, ahead of Morocco on goal difference. Morocco beat Scotland 1-0 in the other group game on Saturday, leaving Scotland third on three points.

Ancelotti stressed that finishing top of the group remains Brazil’s main target going into the final round, while also noting that Scotland will need careful preparation after showing strong moments in their win over Morocco.