Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Neymar will not start in the upcoming World Cup round of 32 match against Japan in Houston at 11 p.m. Bangladesh time. Although Neymar has recovered from injury and shown improvement over the past week, Ancelotti said the forward is not yet ready to play a full match. The coach emphasized that Neymar could play more than 15 minutes, but his exact playing time will depend on the match situation.

Neymar had been sidelined for 981 days due to a right calf injury and missed Brazil’s first two World Cup matches. He returned as a substitute in the group stage match against Scotland, where he showed glimpses of his old form. Ancelotti stated that he plans to use Neymar’s experience and creativity as a late-game advantage rather than taking early risks.

Ancelotti also warned that Japan is one of the world’s best teams and said Brazil is approaching the match with a final-like mindset. He reminded his players to be mentally strong and ready for any scenario, including extra time or penalties.