Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Neymar will be named in the matchday squad to face Scotland and drawn up a detailed comeback plan for the forward.
During his pre-match press conference, Ancelotti provided an update on Neymar’s fitness: “Neymar is available for selection and ready for tomorrow’s fixture against Scotland. He has trained excellently this week, and we are delighted to have him back. He is a world-class talent.”
Ancelotti’s tactical thinking is clear: Neymar has not featured in competitive matches for over a month, so his match sharpness and physical condition are not yet at peak levels. For that reason, the manager plans to give Neymar game time only when the match scenario is relatively comfortable.
Ancelotti stressed he will not throw Neymar into high-pressure situations to rescue the side if Brazil fall behind. This protective measure aims to prevent fresh injury setbacks amid intense physical duels, with the primary goal of letting Neymar complete his final match fitness adjustment through real competitive minutes.
Within Ancelotti’s tactical framework, Neymar will undergo a major positional shift. The coach explicitly stated Neymar will no longer operate as a winger, instead moving infield to play as a false nine, also known as a shadow striker.
Ancelotti explained: “Neymar needs to operate through central areas rather than sticking to the flanks. He will not play wide; he will line up as a striker or second striker. That is exactly the role Vinicius and Raphinha currently occupy for us.”
This positional tweak eases Neymar’s defensive workload while fully unlocking his playmaking and link-up capabilities. In matches, he may rotate into the spot occupied by Matheus Cunha, the pressing centre-forward, or take over from Lucas Paquetá.
