Carlo Ancelotti, the head coach of Brazil, provided reasoning for leaving Neymar on the bench during the national team’s 2-1 victory against Japan, a result that secured their advancement to the Round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup.
Despite receiving loud cheers while preparing on the sidelines, Neymar never entered the match. Ancelotti decided against utilizing the Santos forward, even as the team trailed early in the contest.
Gabriel Martinelli ultimately replaced him and netted the decisive goal in the final moments. Ancelotti noted that he had planned to bring Neymar on around the hour mark, but shifted his strategy after the equalizer. He stated that he chose to maintain the team’s tactical shape because they were in command of the proceedings, ultimately reserving Neymar as an option for potential extra time.
