Star Neymar was included in the squad for his first appearance in the current World Cup. After missing the team in the first two rounds, the player embarked with the Brazilian team delegation last Tuesday (23), heading to Miami, where the clash will take place on Wednesday (24) against Scotland, at the Hard Rock Stadium.
The inclusion of number 10 in the squad represents a significant step forward for his return to the field defending Brazil. The athlete has not taken to the field for the Seleção since October 2023, when he suffered a serious knee injury during a match against Uruguay, in the capital Montevideo, a period of almost three years away that highlights the expectation surrounding his return and the strategic importance of each step in the competition.
Striker participates in training and is released to the reserve bench
Over the previous three days, the striker normally participated in training alongside the rest of the squad and received approval from the medical department to join the reserve bench. His entry onto the field, however, will be conditioned on the progress of the game, considering that the Seleção’s classification for the knockout stages is not yet assured.
During the debut match against Morocco, Neymar accompanied the group and sat on the bench, however, he was wearing sneakers and was not officially listed to play. In the clash against Haiti, the attacker remained in the city of Morristown, focused on treating his right calf, and did not travel with the other players.
The trip to Miami therefore marks the first time that Neymar carries out activities outside of New Jersey, the location designated by the CBF as the national team’s base for this edition of the World Cup. He was also not present in Cleveland, the city that hosted the final friendly match in preparation for the World Cup, played against Egypt.
While Neymar continued his trip, Raphinha remained in Morristown. The Barcelona forward is in a race against time to recover from an injury to his right thigh, a persistent physical problem that has accompanied him throughout the season, and has chosen to give exclusive priority to his treatment process.
The clash between the Brazilian team and Scotland is scheduled for this Wednesday (24), starting at 7pm (Brasília time). The live broadcast of the match can be followed on CazéTV, accessible for free on the Disney+ platform.