Ancelotti leaves Neymar out of Brazil squad but keeps World Cup hope

Carlo Ancelotti has left Neymar out of his latest Brazil squad for the friendlies against France and Croatia. The Santos forward returned to domestic football at the weekend after a lengthy injury, but the manager judged him not yet at the physical level required for international selection.

Ancelotti said: "Neymar can be at the World Cup too. If he can reach the next World Cup at 100 per cent, he can be at the World Cup. Why is he not on this list now? Because he is not 100%. We need players at 100% right now. But as I said, for the final list, the conversation is different.

Neymar has to keep working and playing, showing his qualities in a good physical condition." He added that the decision was a physical evaluation rather than a technical one: "It is a physical evaluation. It is not a technical evaluation. Neymar with the ball is very good.

Brazil

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