Neymar found himself in an unfamiliar role at the World Cup, relegated to a substitute position for the Brazil national team. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti had warned from the outset that the star’s name alone would not guarantee a starting spot: “I want to be honest. He will play if he deserves it. The pitch will decide everything.”
The Santos forward missed the opening matches due to injury and was left on the bench entirely during the Round of 16 clash against Japan. The head coach acknowledged Neymar’s frustration but praised his professionalism.
“He’s not happy, but he behaves very well and trains excellently. Neymar is highly respected and well-liked by his teammates. Of course, he wants to play, as he always has. He doesn’t say it outright, but it’s completely clear. And that’s a positive thing, because no player can be satisfied sitting on the bench,” Ancelotti added.
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