Ancelotti Backs Brazil Squad Despite Neymar Chants Following 2-1 Defeat to France

Key Takeaways:

• Brazil suffered a 2-1 defeat to France in a friendly match held in Boston on Thursday
• Carlo Ancelotti addressed fan chants for Neymar, who was omitted from the squad due to recent muscle fatigue
• Brazil are scheduled to face Croatia on 31 March in Orlando as preparations continue for the World Cup in North America

Ancelotti Responds to Neymar Absence Amid Boston Defeat

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti chose to downplay supporter calls for Neymar’s return after their 2-1 loss to France in a preparatory fixture in Boston on Thursday. Despite vocal chants for the absent forward, who was not called up for the squad, Ancelotti emphasised that attention should remain on the players involved in the match.

Neymar, the 34-year-old national icon and record scorer with 79 goals, has not featured for the Seleção since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2023. Although he rejoined Santos last year, persistent fitness issues have restricted his appearances, and he recently missed a Santos fixture due to muscle fatigue – an outing that Ancelotti had intended to observe in person to assess the player’s form ahead of squad selection.

🚨🇧🇷 | Ancelotti when asked about the crowd chanting for Neymar:

“We have to talk about those who are here, who played, gave everything, showed their faces, worked very hard. I'm satisfied.” pic.twitter.com/i3xbChxuPw

— AllThingsBrazil™ (@SelecaoTalk) March 26, 2026

Manager’s Assessment and Player Performances

Ancelotti reiterated his satisfaction with those selected for the encounter, underlining their effort, character, and resilience during the contest. He singled out Raphinha for particular praise, stating, “I think Raphinha played very well. He had some muscle discomfort at the end of the first half and we had to substitute him, but he had many opportunities and very good movement off the ball.”

Vinicius Jr. was also highlighted by Ancelotti, who noted, “And Vini (Vinicius Jr.) always tries; he always makes the difference. A striker cannot always score, but the work done by both of them was good.”

Neymar’s Status and Squad Prospects

Ancelotti has repeatedly suggested that Neymar will be reconsidered for national duty if he returns to full fitness. Reflecting on the defeat to France, the Italian manager asserted his confidence in the squad’s capacity to challenge elite teams. “I think today’s game makes it very clear to me that we can compete with the best teams in the world. I have no doubt about that,” Ancelotti said.

Looking Ahead

Brazil will continue their preparations by facing Croatia on 31 March in Orlando. Their attention then turns to the World Cup campaign, set to take place from 11 June to 19 July across North America.