Neymar could miss entire World Cup group stage with Brazil
Brazil is prioritizing Neymar's full fitness for the knockout rounds, meaning the forward may sit out the entire group stage of the World Cup.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: Renan Katayama
Brazil has reached a firm consensus regarding Neymar’s participation in the opening phase of the World Cup: caution is the only path forward. Despite his importance to the squad, there is currently no indication that he will be risked in the upcoming match against Haiti.
Neymar is currently rehabilitating from a grade-two calf injury sustained while playing for Santos on May 17. While he has increased his workload in the gym, he has not yet returned to grass training with the rest of the team. The medical staff at Brazil is ensuring he does not suffer a regression by rushing back to intensive drills too soon.
Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible. When we called up Neymar, we did it not just because of his technical quality, which is undeniable. But also because of his experience, the example he could represent for the younger players on the team. Carlo Ancelotti
Internally, the strategy under Carlo Ancelotti is to have Neymar fit for the knockout stages. This effectively rules him out of the clash against Haiti and makes him a major doubt for the final group match against Scotland on June 24 in Miami. This conservative approach will only be maintained if the team's results allow for such a luxury.
The medical team plans to conduct fresh imaging tests in the coming days to verify if the calf muscle has fully healed. These results will dictate whether Neymar can accelerate his transition to the pitch or if he must continue his individual rehabilitation program.