Why Brazil decided to call up Ederson and what role Neymar will play at World Cup

Added: 2026-06-10

[00:00:00]Brazil head into the World Cup with Carlo Anchelotti at the helm and dreams of ending their 24-year weight to lift their sixth World Cup. Well, Brazil are not problem free heading into this tournament. Carve Solico has been watching over their training session this afternoon. Let's join him now then.

[00:00:16]Carve Brazil come into this tournament look with a lot less pressure on them than previous ones. Can you tell us why?

[00:00:24]Well, they just haven't been in very good form, especially in the uh World Cup qualifying in the South American group uh where they lost six times and they finished six in the group. Uh normally they would have had to go through a playoff to get into the World Cup. Uh but because the World Cup has been expanded this time round, they did manage to get in uh automatically. But they had a really problematic qualifying group. they had uh three different managers and only just managed to qualify for the World Cup. So, under normal circumstances, of course, you would be looking at this group of players uh saying they've got some of the best players in the world. They uh ought to be one of the favorites for the World Cup. They're definitely one of the biggest draws uh for the World Cup because of the mystique and the history of the Brazilian national team. But I think they are one of the sort of outsiders in the group of favorites who can win this World Cup just because uh of the poor form they've been in. I think things have improved. The spirit in the camp has improved since Carlo Angelotti has come in. Obviously, he needs no introduction. and one of the greatest club managers of all time. He's become the first foreigner to become the manager of Brazil, but he's a manager who has such a great connection uh with bigname players. He's had that throughout his career and I think he's been working his magic on these Brazilian players as well. It hasn't been plain sailing though. Carlo Angelotti, I think, has been in charge for 10 games. Uh Brazil have won half of them. They've won five of them. I think they drew three and lost two under him as well. But you know, we normally start these um sort of live reports from training sessions with the reporter in vision. And I know Bella, you probably looking forward to seeing me cuz I haven't seen you for a while. But I thought, you know, when you've got such a collection of incredible players, let's start the report by focusing on them instead of a jobbing reporter like me. Do you know what Car was disappointed that I didn't get to see you, but then I saw Anchelotti and all was fine. So, look, let's talk about some of the players, shall we? Gabrielle will be a key figure in the defense. We know that, but it is also his first World Cup. What is the expectation for him during this tournament?

[00:02:49]>> Well, I think he could be one of the sort of standout center backs uh of this World Cup, especially if Brazil managed to go deep in the tournament. Obviously, he's somebody who is uh been the focus of a lot of um attention recently, especially because of what happened in the Champions League final uh when he missed that crucial penalty for Arsenal.

[00:03:14]Uh looking at social media over the past couple of days and weeks. There've been a lot of people making fun of him, but let's not forget he is one of the best center backs in the world at the moment.

[00:03:26]He also uh was a key key uh part of the Arsenal side who won the Premier League title uh last season. You're you're right though, this is um sort of uncharted territory for him because I don't think he was even in the Brazil squad uh for the last World Cup in Qatar. But because of his form uh at Arsenal over the last couple of seasons, he's become an automatic starter. He'll be the left-sided center back in Brazil's starting 11 for every game and I think he could be a really really crucial player and he's all set to prove to the watching world that he is one of the best center backs in the world at this tournament.

[00:04:14]>> Look, one of the big talking points has been Edison replacing Wesley due to injury. Why has Ancelotti decided to replace a fullback with a central midfielder?

[00:04:25]Yeah, it was surprising that that's what Ancelotti decided to do. Uh but who am I to question uh the decision making of a legendary manager like Carlo Anchelotti?

[00:04:37]I think one of the other reasons that it was a little bit surprising is because Brazil are not blessed with too many options in the full back positions. If you think about the great Brazilian sides of the past going right back to the sort of 60s and 70s, 80s, 90s, right up until, you know, 10 years ago, they always had exceptional uh fullbacks, incredible fullbacks who were brilliant at getting forward and defending as well. You can't really say that about this group of players. Most uh Brazilian football journalists you speak to would say the one sort of weakness in this squad uh is the fact that they don't have great fullbacks. And I think they've been weakened further after Wesley was forced to pull out of the squad uh injured and it was surprising that Carlo decided to bring in Edison.

[00:05:34]But great news for us, great news for Manchester United uh supporters as well because they'll be getting to have a close look at United's first signing of the summer. Big things expected from Edison. He's somebody who's proved himself in European football at Atlanta.

[00:05:52]He's got experience of playing uh in the Champions League. uh and speaking to some of the Brazilian journalists here, they were mentioning that they thought that perhaps Edison uh had been recommended personally to Manchester United by Casemiro, one of the midfielders that he is set to replace at Old Trafford next season.

[00:06:14]>> And Carvo, what about Neymar? I have to ask about him. Does he have any chance at playing at this tournament?

[00:06:22]Yeah, he's um somebody who we can't see out here at the moment because he's injured. Uh he still is being troubled by this uh calf muscle injury. I think it's now touch and go whether he'll be fit more go than touch actually whether he'll be able to play any part uh in Brazil's opening game against Morocco here in New Jersey on Saturday. But I think the plan always has been uh for him to uh integrate him into the squad at a later date. Perhaps uh it was always likely that he was going to miss the first game, but his inclusion in the squad has been very very controversial.

[00:07:07]Neymar of course is a great player, but most observers would say that he is past his best. He's now 34. He's had some very very serious injury problems. a serious knee injury that kept him out for a long time. Uh he's gone back to Brazil of course playing in Brazil now, but when you look at the quality of some of the players who were emitted from this squad, you get an idea of why it was surprising that he was included uh especially because at the moment he's got a martial injury. For instance, what does somebody like Xiao Pedro, who had a brilliant season at Chelsea, uh, think of the fact that he wasn't able to get in this squad, uh, but Neymar was.

[00:07:52]>> Okay, Carve, thanks ever so much. We look forward to seeing you hopefully. I think it's just because you had your casual clothes on, wasn't it?

[00:08:00]>> Actually, you know, I'm I'm looking quite smart today.

[00:08:02]>> Yeah. Well, we'll take your word for it.

[00:08:04]Thank you.