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Neymar to return for Brazil World Cup group finale vs Scotland

·By Junior Yekini
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Neymar to return for Brazil World Cup group finale vs Scotland

Santos/X.com

Neymar is set to be available for Brazil's final World Cup group game against Scotland, with Carlo Ancelotti confirming the forward will train individually before rejoining the full squad on Monday.

Neymar will be available for Brazil's final World Cup group game after all, head coach Ancelotti confirmed following the 3-0 win over Haiti.

"Neymar will train individually on Saturday. On Monday he'll train with the team again and will be ready for the match against Scotland," Ancelotti said at his post-match press conference.

The 34-year-old has missed Brazil's opening two matches as he recovers from a calf strain, with some reports in Brazilian media in recent days suggesting he might not be fit again until the round of 32 or even the round of 16.

Ancelotti's update offers a more positive timeline, with Neymar now set to return in time for the group-stage finale against Scotland, having missed the tournament entirely up to this point through injury.

Neymar's last appearance in Brazilian top-flight football came on 17 May, with Santos managing his return carefully in the build-up to the World Cup. Injuries have repeatedly disrupted his involvement during Brazil's qualifying campaign, but he remained influential whenever fit, contributing two goals and three assists across four appearances during that period.

Brazil sit top of Group C on four points following wins over Haiti and a draw with Morocco in their opening fixture, with Neymar's return adding a significant attacking option to a squad already boasting Matheus Cunha and Vinicius Junior heading into the knockout stages.

The timing of his recovery means Neymar will have had only a handful of training sessions with the full squad before facing Scotland, but Ancelotti's confirmation will come as a considerable relief to Brazilian supporters who had feared the forward might miss the entire group stage of his country's World Cup campaign.