**Group C: Ancelotti Expects Neymar Back for Brazil’s Scotland World Cup Showdown**
Brazil's national football team is gearing up for a crucial Group C match against Scotland on Wednesday, with manager Carlo Ancelotti expressing optimism about the return of star player Neymar. Following Brazil's convincing 3-0 victory over Haiti in their second group stage match on Friday, Ancelotti confirmed that Neymar, who has been sidelined with a calf strain, is expected to participate in the upcoming game.
Neymar, 34, has not played since May 17, when he was last seen on the pitch for Santos in Brazil’s top flight. His recovery has been closely monitored, and Ancelotti indicated that Neymar would begin individual training on Saturday, followed by a return to team training on Monday. "Neymar will be training tomorrow individually and on Monday he’s going to be training with the rest of the team," Ancelotti stated during the post-match press conference. "He will be available for the match against Scotland."
The absence of Neymar has been felt during Brazil's campaign, particularly in the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches where injuries limited his appearances. However, when fit, he has made a significant impact, scoring twice and providing three assists in four outings.
In addition to Neymar's potential return, Brazil's lineup is under consideration as Ancelotti evaluates the performance of Matheus Cunha, who started in place of Igor Thiago after coming on during Brazil's 1-1 draw with Morocco in their tournament opener. Cunha made a notable impression with a first-half double against Haiti, prompting questions about his role moving forward. "He may," Ancelotti responded when asked if Cunha would continue as the centre-forward. "I think that Matheus’ position was a good position for creating problems for the defence. He filtered his passes very well, and his position was a good position to be effective at the front."
Despite Cunha's strong performance, Ancelotti emphasized a flexible approach to team strategy. "It can be an option. We discussed this yesterday. I don’t want a clear identity. Maybe we will change this on the next match," he added.
As Brazil currently leads Group C with four points, their position is bolstered by goal difference over Morocco, who secured a 1-0 victory against Scotland earlier on Friday. The Scots, sitting on three points, face a critical match against Brazil, which could determine their fate in the tournament.
Ancelotti, however, remains focused on Brazil's performance rather than the implications for Scotland. "We don’t think about knocking out Scotland. We think about playing well and improving, and we analyse the match," he said. "If we can reach the first position of the group, that would be important for the future. So we want to prepare well for that match."
Acknowledging Scotland's capabilities, Ancelotti noted, "Scotland has its features. It can create a problem. It created problems for Morocco today. And so we have to focus on the match and be calm and be tranquil and keep on working to improve."
As the countdown to the match against Scotland begins, all eyes will be on Neymar's recovery and Brazil's tactical decisions, with the team aiming to secure their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup.