Neymar in 'great shape' and could be set for Brazil return in Scotland clash

[p]The 34-year-old, recalled by Ancelotti after almost three years away from the national ‌side, has yet to play at the tournament after suffering the injury ‌more than five weeks ago.[/p][p]His absence from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a]'s opening two group matches against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/haiti/nk4v10Z1/"]Haiti[/a] ‌only sharpened the intrigue around a player whose career has lurched from ‌dazzling promise to a medical file thick enough to alarm even the most optimistic supporter.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neymar/jNOPwl3h/"]Neymar[/a] last played for Brazil in 2023, when he suffered a serious knee injury against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uruguay/xMk44orG/"]Uruguay[/a] in a World ‌Cup qualifier.[/p][image alt="Neymar in Brazil training" id="3f37e54f-2110-423e-ab71-ce0238a3722c" credit-line="IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters / Vincent Carchietta" guid="75f4e072-5cc4-456c-8382-1b8535d2da53" original-width="2920" original-height="2046" /][p]Since then, he has been sidelined for more ⁠than 650 days by a string of ‌injuries sustained during spells playing in Saudi Arabia and Brazil, where he returned to boyhood ​club [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/santos/n3QdnjFB/"]Santos[/a] last year in an attempt to revive his career.[/p][p]Instead, his comeback has been stop-start, with further injuries and fresh controversies interrupting his ​search for rhythm and sharpness.[/p][p]This year he has scored six goals and provided four assists in 15 matches, while being carefully managed and never playing more than four ⁠consecutive games since returning from ​knee surgery in February.[/p][p]His inclusion in Ancelotti's squad sparked fierce debate in Brazil, largely because nobody seemed entirely sure when he would be fit -- or what version of Neymar would emerge if he was.[/p][h2]Neymar back in full training[/h2][p]After missing the matches against Morocco ‌and Haiti, Neymar resumed full training last week. On Monday, he took part in his first tactical and team training under Ancelotti, who took over Brazil after leaving [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] last year.[/p][p]Teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinelli/dITe5M88/"]Gabriel Martinelli[/a] said Neymar looked ready.[/p][p]"[b]He's performing at a very high level and you could see the intensity in today's training session. You could see how keen he is to be with us, and his quality is unquestionable[/b]," Martinelli told a press conference on Monday.[/p][p]"[b]Whether he'll play or not is a question for the manager, but I think he's in great shape[/b]."[/p][image alt="Win probability" id="0f67ac9a-397c-4489-9855-bc9e1d236968" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="51a357f7-f43b-4a40-86e1-5d29da547aa6" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Brazil lead Group C ‌on four points ahead of Morocco on goal difference. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/scotland/fZRU25WH/"]Scotland[/a] are third with three ​points.[/p][p]After a flat first half in the 1-1 draw with Morocco, Brazil ‌responded with a 3-0 win over Haiti and need a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brazil-I9l9aqLq/scotland-fZRU25WH/?mid=EgVZxtj1"]convincing display against the Scots[/a] to boost their chances of coming top.[/p][p]Brazil will reach the Round of 32 as group winners if they win or draw versus Scotland and Morocco fail to beat Haiti.[/p][p]Ancelotti also has a right-wing headache, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raphinha/xtBsDPam/"]Raphinha[/a] ⁠ruled out by a hamstring injury. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a] ⁠youngster [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rayan/CSiH3dM4/"]Rayan[/a] replaced him against ‌Haiti, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/zenit-st-petersburg/vsXou9m7/"]Zenit St Petersburg[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/luiz-henrique/Op0yfwBb/"]Luiz Henrique[/a] is favourite to start.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]