Brazil name World Cup squad: Neymar recalled by Carlo Ancelotti

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since October 2023. The 34-year-old forward, who has spent the past 18 months at his boyhood club Santos, was named in Carlo Ancelotti 26-man list, announced at a glitzy gala evening in Rio de Janeiro on Monday evening. There had been a lengthy debate over Neymar’s inclusion in the squad, with polls suggesting the Brazilian public was evenly split on the matter. The forward will now play in his fourth World Cup. Bournemouth youngster Rayan also made the cut, along with Brentford striker Igor Thiago, but there was no place for Joao Pedro of Chelsea. “It was very difficult to choose these 26 players,” said Ancelotti.. “Why? Because the competition in this country is very, very high. I know some players who have been with us this year will be unhappy.” Joao Pedro, 24, is the most significant exclusion. He has featured regularly since Ancelotti took over a year ago and his versatility is seemingly valued by the coaching staff. It appears, though, that he has paid the price for some underwhelming club form. Two other Premier League players, Andrey Santos and Richarlison, were always going to be outside bets but have also missed out. Igor Thiago and Endrick impressed against France and Croatia in the last international break and do not count as huge surprises. Rayan, however, is an interesting one. The 19-year-old would not have been in the reckoning six months ago but has put together an eye-catching body of work since moving from Vasco da Gama to Bournemouth in January. Lucas Paqueta will also be breathing a sigh of relief, having appeared to tumble down the pecking order over the last 12 months. Rodrygo, the Real Madrid winger, was ruled out earlier in the year after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament. His club team-mate Eder Militao — potentially the starting right-back as well as back-up in the centre of the defence — is also sidelined with an ongoing knee issue. Then there is Estevao, who has failed to recover from a hamstring injury sustained while playing for Chelsea in April. The teenager was expected to start on the right wing, meaning Ancelotti is going to have to rejig his frontline. Ancelotti needs to find the right combination in attack, but there are, at least, plenty of solid options there. A bigger area of concern — one whose existence pre-dates the current coaching regime — is the full-back positions. Douglas Santos of Zenit Saint Petersburg is likely to start on the left, with veteran Alex Sandro in reserve. The picture is even cloudier on the right, where options include the ultra-attacking Wesley, Roger Ibanez (a centre-back who plays in Saudi Arabia) and former Manchester City utility man Danilo, who isn’t even first choice for his club, Flamengo. Ancelotti will have his work cut out to patch up what are clear areas of weakness. Brazil’s players will report for duty on May 27 and will play one friendly before travelling to the U.S.. That will be against Panama at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, on May 31. After that, they play Egypt in Cleveland on June 6, exactly a week before their opening World Cup fixture, against Morocco. Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio) Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Gabriel (Arsenal), Roger Ibanez (Al-Ahi), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Wesley (Roma) Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo) Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luis Henrique (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Neymar (Santos), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms