Neymar Faces Extended Layoff with Calf Injury

Neymar's call-up to the World Cup was already a surprise. His call-up for the World Cup came as a surprise and was met with great joy in Brazil, the press wrote. The reason for his late inclusion in the squad was the injury problems that had plagued him throughout the season so far.

Ancelotti Praises Neymar's Experience

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti had nominated Neymar not only for his outstanding footballing qualities, but also for his experience. He could be a good example for the younger players in our squad, Ancelotti said. Teammate Vinicius Junior described Neymar as an idol.

On the opposing side, Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi regrets the possible loss of the duel. Hakimi, who is under contract with Champions League winners PSG, said: "Ich will gegen die besten Spieler antreten und Neymar gehört zu den Besten". At the same time, Morocco's coach Mohamed Ouahbi stressed that preparations had not changed significantly: "Wir haben uns auf ein Match mit und ohne Neymar vorbereitet. Für uns ändert sich nichts", the 49-year-old said.

Morocco Reacts Calmly

After the match against Morocco, Brazil faces further group games. Further opponents for the Seleção are Haiti on June 20 and Scotland on June 26. Should Neymar be sidelined for an extended period, it would painfully impact Ancelotti's attacking plans, as the 34-year-old was intended to serve as a central focal point and a leadership figure in the squad.

In Brazil, meanwhile, concerns are growing that Neymar's potential absence will diminish the chances of a successful World Cup start. Even though the Seleção has a richly assembled squad, the striker is considered a defining figure whose presence on the pitch is hard to replace. Whether Ancelotti wants to take the risk of playing him remained unclear late in the evening.

Clarity regarding Neymar's availability is not expected until matchday itself. Until then, both the federation and the coaching staff are notably holding back on making any concrete statements about the attacking player's state of health.